
LIFE IN NEW BEDFORD 



ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO 




Qass 



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Book *. 




From a portrait owned by Mrs. Morgan Rotch. 



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LIFE IN NEW BE DFORD 
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO 

A Chronicle of the Social, Religious and 
Commercial History of the Period as re- 
corded in a Diary kept by Joseph R. 
Anthony 



EDITED BY 
ZEPHANIAH W. PEASE 




Published under the auspices of 

The Old Dartmouth Historical Society 

By George H. Reynolds 






Published and Printed by 
GEORGE H. REYNOLDS 

Cor. of William and Second Sts. 
New Bedford, Mass. 
1922 



INTRODUCTION. 



The picture most familiar to the 
people of New Bedford is that of 
"Main Street," now Union street, a 
lithograph reproduced from a paint- 
ing by William A. Wall. It affords a 
glimpse of the most pretentious neigh- 
borhood in the town as it existed a 
little more than a century ago. Once 
the picture adorned about every home 
in the village. When the period of 
the chromo came the old prints were 
displaced and many were destroyed. 
Within a few years old prints have 
come in vogue and the old New Bed- 
ford picture is eagerly sought. 

The print reveals in the foreground 
William Rotch in a chaise, the only 
one in the village at the time, a vehi- 
cle said to have been imported from 
England. Along the street is a row of 
buildings, a store, a blacksmith shop, 
the town pound, and last in the line, 
the old mansion of William Rotch, 
surrounded by a garden, with poplar 
trees along the roadside. 

A few traditions came down of so- 
cial events in that early day, such as 
the visit of John de Marsiellac from 
Languedoc, who read, the petition 
from William Rotch to the national 
assembly of France in reply to which 
Mirabeau, the president of the French 
national assembly, made a beau- 
tiful apostrophe to the Quakers 
— "I was present," wrote William 



LiOgan Fisher in a manuscript 
still in existence, "when he alighted 
from the stage at William Rotch's 
door and remember the earnest kisses 
which he bestowed upon the cheeks 
of that venerable man. There was 
General Lincoln of Revolutionary 
memjory who received the sword of 
CornwaHis and led him out as a pris- 
oner at Yorktown. There was Count 
Rochambeau Liancourt, Peter Grant 
of Italy and many others. 

The meagre records and traditions 
familiar to those who love the fasci- 
nating history of the rare old, fair old 
golden time, served to excite curiosity 
for further knowledge of the men and 
women of the village period. As we 
have looked at the stately Dutch cap 
mansions, indicative of caste and dis- 
tinction, there has come eager curi- 
osity for intimate knowledge of those 
who laid the corner stone of the 
structure, their social and business 
life, their joys and sorrows. We have 
craved to participate in an adventure 
such as Le Sage depicted in Asmodeus' 
flight. In the tale, "Le Diable Bor- 
teaux," "The Devil On Two Sticks," 
the spirit liberated from a bottle, 
takes Don Cleofas along, unroofs the 
buildings of a great city and enter- 
tains his companion with glimpses of 
those within, revealing their suffer- 
ings, transports and agitations. 



[ 3 ] 



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Asmodeus is a spirit of disrepute 
but his facilities for getting about 
were highly developed. By a fortu- 
nate set of chances we are now en- 
abled to unroof the patrician homes 
of the village in a high and far off 
time when "all things in order stood," 
as pictured in the old prints, "a haunt 
of ancient Peace," and look in upon 
the life ,of the cultivated men and 
women of their day with almost the 
intimacy acquired in the celebrated 
flight of Asmodeus. 

The opportunity to unveil this story 
of the social, business and religious 
life of this community a hundred 
years ago, comes through the deciston 
of the custodians of a diary kept by 
Joseph R. Anthony in the years 1823 
and 1824, to permit its publication. 
The diary is now in the custody of 
Mrs. Josephine Grinnell Rotch, the 
widow of Morgan Rotch, a daughter 
of J. G. Grinnell. Hitherto the read- 
ing of the diary has been limited to a 
few associated with the families most 
intimately concerned. The value of 
the record was recognized as of ex- 
ceeding historical interest, which 
might one day be published. But it 
has been withheld from the public 
because being of so personal a nature 
it was feared that breaking the seal 
might give offence in some quarter. 
The time has arrived when there is 
not a direct descendant living in New 
Bedford of Mr. Anthony, who wrote 
the diary. 

The diary was kept by Joseph R. 
Anthony, who was, in 1823, when the 
record commences, 26 years old. Mr. 
Anthony was employed at that time 
in the counting room of the Rotches. 
Later in life he built the mansion of 
stone on the estate which stretches 
for a block on Orchard street, now 
owned by Miss Julia Delano. The 
record nearly fills two leather bound 



b.ooks. It commences on January 1, 

1823, and it ends on September 30, 

1824. When Moses H. Grinnell died 
in New York, these diaries were 
found among his private papers. The 
Grinnell family recognized the im- 
portance of the annals. It was felt 
by the family of Mr. Grinnell that 
the diaries should be returned to New 
Bedford because of the importance 
they were bound to take in the his- 
torical archives of this community. 
At that time a son of Joseph Anthony, 
the writer, Rowland Anthony, was 
living and to him was given the cus- 
tody. William W. Crapo, among other 
friends of the Grinnell family, was 
privileged to read the diaries and 
recognized their unique interest and 
value as history. It now seems to 
Mr. Crapo that sufficient time has 
elapsed to avoid the possibility of 
wounding the sensibilities of any per- 
son now living by the publication of 
these personal experiences of a hun- 
dred years ago, and it is through his 
intercession that the custodians of the 
diaries have permitted their publica- 
tion. 

The Anthony diaries are somewhat 
unusual, inasmuch as they are not so 
much a personal legend of Mr, An- 
thony's experiences as they are a 
record of daily events in town and 
country. The Adamses and other 
famous diarists of that period kept a 
daily chronicle, but it was written 
around their personal movements. 
Mr. Anthony's record is as imper- 
sonal for considerable periods as a 
ship's log book, although it is not car-- 
ried to the exasperating degree of per- 
sonal suppression that distinguishes 
log books. But that Mr. Anthony was 
in touch with log book literature is 
indicated by the fact that he often 
employs the vernacular of log books, 
as in the final entry of 1823 — "So ends 



[ 4 ] 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



this year." There is no introduction to 
the first volume which is brought to 
light. For anything that appears Mr. 
Anthony had kept a diary habitually. 
And it is brought to a close on Sep- 
tember 30, 1824. There are many 
blank pages following the last entry 
in the second volume. It is strange 
that a writer who had kept a diary so 
persistently and faithfully for this 
period should suddenly cease, without 
written explanation. If there had 
been laspes before the last entry it 
might have been surmised that Mr. 
Anthony had wearied of his under- 
taking or that other activities en- 
grossed him, but the final record lOf 
September 30 is written in great de- 
tail. 

A theory regarding these two vol- 
umes of records which may account 
for the circumstances of the abrupt 
ending, has been suggested. Moses 
H. Grihnell, a young man of twenty at 
this time, worked in the counting 
room of the Rotches, along with Mr, 
Anthony. Moses was Joseph's most 
intimate friend. He was engaged to 
Susan Russell, a sister of Joseph's 
wife. He sailed from New Bedford 
October 21, 1823, on a voyage to 
South America, Mediterranean and 
Baltic ports. "For the first time in my 
life," wrote Joseph, "a tear moistened 
my eye on parting with a friend. For 
nearly five years he has been my 
companion in the counting room and 
endeared himself to me so much that 
I can truly say I felt for him all a 
brother's love. He goes from here to 
Pernambuco and from thence up the 
Mediteri'anean to Trieste and will be 
absent from eight to ten months." 
Mr. Crapo conceives that Mr. Anthony 
kept this journal for Moses Grinnell. 
This view is supported by the ending 
of the diary in 1824, coincident with 
the return of Moses. It was not feas- 



ible to keep a world traveler in touch 
with home matters through the med- 
ium of letters in that day. There were 
no local newspapers, and Mr. Crapo 
is of the opinion that it was arranged 
that Joseph should keep this journal 
that Moses might be informed minute- 
ly of 9{ll the happenings in the town 
in his absence. Another theory is that 
Mr. Anthony kept a diary habitually 
and turned over the two volumes 
covering the period to Moses on his 
return — that the other diaries were 
destroyed and that Moses preserved 
the only exhibits of Mr. Anthony's in- 
dustry. 

Moses Grinnell was a son of Cor- 
nelius Grinnell. The trip, upon 
^hich he was starting, was made 
to assist him to fulfill his ambition 
!to become a great merchant. He was 
not bent upon pleasure. He first 
made an intensive study of con- 
ditions in the countries he visited in 
i^outh America. He investigated the 
[products, what was consumed in home 
[production, the amount of surplus for 
(export, prices, costs of transportation, 
rates of exchange. He did the same 
thing in Italy. Later he returned to 
New York and was one of the found- 
(ers of the great house of Grinnell, 
Minturn & Co. Henry Grinnell, a 
brother, who financed the Dr. Kane 
Arctic expedition, was associated with 
him. The firm set apart $10,000 a 
year for the entertainment of foreign 
diplomats and the great men of earth 
were guests of the firm. Mr. Grinnell 
became one of the leading men of 
affairs in the United States. 

At the period when the diary was 
written the five most beautiful girls 
in the town were the daughters of 
Gilbert Russell. Gilbert Russell was 
a great grandson of Joseph Russell, 
for whom Joseph Rotch named New 
Bedford, Russell being the family 



[ 5 ] 



LIFE 



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name of the Duke of Bedford. The 
town was named Bedford. Later, when 
it was found there was another Bed- 
ford in the colony, "New" was pre- 
fixed. Old Joseph Russell owned one 
of the eleven farms, including what Is 
now Russell Mills. Later Russells 
added to the domain and a large part 
of the property came to Gilbert by 
inheritance. Gilbert was a whaling 
merchant. At the time the Anthony 
diary was written he lived in a very 
stately mansion on the west side of 
County street at the head of Walnut 
street. This old mansion was later 
sold to William R. Rotch and re- 
modeled, and the house parted with 
something of its distinction in the re- 
building. It is now owned by Edward 
S. Brown. Later, in 1829, Mr. Russell 
built the mansion at the northwest 
corner of Russell and Sixth streets. 

Two Grinnells married daughters of 
Gilbert Russell. The first of the girls 
to be married was Catharine, who 
married Joseph R. Anthony, a cousin. 
Lydia Russell married William W. 
Swain. Mr. Swain was called "Gov- 
ernor" Swain, because he ruled over 
the Island of Naushon, which he 
bought in conjunction with John M. 
Forbes. Mr. Swain lived in the man- 
sion at the corner of County and Haw- 
thorn streets, which he endowed as a 
school, the mansion coming into pos- 
session of the school trustees at the 
death of his wife. Swain and Forbes 
agreed that the title of Naushon 
should pass to the survivor, and so it 
happened that Mr. Forbes became the 
sole owner of the island. Susan Rus- 
sell married Moses H. Grinnell. Susan 
died in 1832 and later Moses Grinnell 
married a niece of Washington Irving. 
Cornelius Grinnell, Jr., married Eliza 
T. Russell for his first wife and after 
her death Mary Russell, a sister. 

It is a matter of tradition, that the 



Russell girls were famed for their 
beauty. We know that In the day in 
which Mr. Anthony writes they were 
slight in figure, for in an entry in 
April, 1823, Joseph records. "The 
girls, with Warren and Moses, dined 
with us. In the afternoon the girls 
came down to the counting room to 
be weighed — Mary 94, Sue 90, Katy 
88." The blithe romance of Moses and 
Susan is touched upon naively. On 
February 23, 1823, Mr. Anthony 
records: 

"Susan, Moses, Warren and Tom 
dined with me. We had a pretty merry 
day. Moses in high glee, being his 
birthday, as well as elated with his 
success in his affair." 

On March 13, Joseph Writes: 

"Cousin Tom, Moses and Susan 
dined with us. On the 23rd of last 
month I attributed part of the fine 
spirits which Moses was in to its being 
his birthday, but since find I was 
mistaken, and it was all owing to the 
other source, today being his birthday 
— twenty years old." 

The Friends society, of whioii the 
Russell girls were birthright members, 
undertook to discipline Mary and 
Susan. This part of the record is 
very full and interesting. Schism had 
developed among the Friends at this 
period. It was not unlike the con- 
temporary schism in the Congrega- 
tional church, a controversy between 
the liberal element and the less 
liberal. The meeting house which 
Mr. Anthony attended, of which he 
wrote and In which the stirring scenes 
recorded in the diary were enacted, 
was erected in 1785 on the Spring 
street lot, given by Joseph Russell. 
This old meeting house was removed 
in 1826 when the meeting house of 
brick, now standing, was built. At 
the period the Diary was written the 
New Light movement, which had been 



[ 6 ] 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



brewing since 1817, was just culmi- 
nating. The new group claimed to 
have received "new light" which led 
them to disregard the practices and 
principles of the society. In some 
communities the Quakers split and 
divided between factions within the 
society, there were Gurneyites and 
Wllburites in some sections, repre- 
senting degrees of liberality. In 
New Bedford a part of the liberal 
element united with the Unitarians. 
Later the Wilburites built a meeting 
house on the east side of Fifth street, 
north of Russell. The story of the 
differences between the Old Lights 
and the New Lights as related by Mr. 
Anthony, is represented in excellent 
spirit. When it is considered that Mr. 
Anthony was but 26 and that two of 
his wife's sisters were menaced with 
the discipline of the society, the fair- 
ness of the relation and the restraint, 
is remarkable. 

On April 16, Joseph writes: 
"Mary and Susan had another visit 
this forenoon from the overseers of 
the meeting to labour with them re- 
specting their dress and address and 
informed that they should make a 
complaint to the meeting." 
On April 17 is this record: 
"The overseers of the meeting en- 
tered a regular complaint in the 
preparative meeting this day against 
Mary and Susan for not conforming 
to the Discipline in all the important 
points of Dress, Address, attending 
disorderly meetings (viz. the marriage 
of Jeremiah Winslow and mine) and 
frequenting places of public amuse- 
ments. After some debate it was con- 
cluded to carry the complaint up to 
the monthly meeting next week. The 
girls have got their feelings a good 
deal excited and will probably resign 
their membership. The girls, with 
Warren and Moses dined with us." 



On April 20 he records: 

"This morning we had an edifying 
sermon from William James on the 
great importance of dress. He alluded 
pretty pointedly to Mary and Susan 
on the sinfulness of their gay attire." 

The final episode in the attempt to 
discipline Mary and Susan wherein 
the sisters relinquished their rights to 
membership in the society, is a most 
interesting and important contribu- 
tion to the religious history of New 
Bedford. It was at this time that Mary 
Newell came here and the story of 
the friction between the Old Lights 
and the New Lights is told as never 
before. It was a fine quality in Mr. 
Alithony that he turned from the 
pleasures of the week and attended 
meetings with regularity, writing with 
surprising reserve and discrimination, 
his youth considered. These were ex- 
citing times in the meeting, when 
speakers "denounced a woe upon 
those who interposed the work of the 
Lord"; austere Quakers would not 
arise at the prayer of the New Lights, 
when Debby Otis stood in the aisle 
and would not let Eliza Rotch take 
the high seat. At one time Cornelius 
Grinnell unloaded a vessel on Sunday 
which caused criticism. Cornelius 
finally "had himself complained of for 
a breach of the Sabbath," in anticipa- 
tion of action by the society, "and by 
that means saved half the expense." 

The mild gaiety of the town is pic- 
tured. "Took tea at Fathers. Nat and 
Anna, Mrs. Tom Rotch and others 
there a-quilting" is one entry. Baga- 
telle was played. A "Grand Caravan 
of Living Animals" visited the town. 
A company of colored performers 
came and was sent out of town by the 
selectmen. Thanksgiving evening Jo- 
seph attended a "grand oratorio." On 
Washington's Birthday the artillery 
company paraded, there was an ora- 



[ 7 ] 



LIFE IN NEW BEDFORD 



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A Page of the Diary (Reproduced in Actual Size) 
[ 8 ] 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



tion and a dinner at Cole's Hotel, but 
"from all account the delivery of the 
oration was ludicrous enough and 
shew the man was partially deranged. 
On the whole the celebratiop was a 
pretty small concern. In the evening 
had an oyster supper." Mr. Anthony 
visited New York, saw "Tom and 
Jerry" and Matthews at the theatre. 
The plays included "The Clandestine 
Marriage," "Monsieur Tonson" and 
the "Forty Thieves." On this trip 
Joseph was invited to meet Prince 
Marat who was over from France. 
Among the quaint things he saw in 
New York was a "stepping mill," 
which is described. 

We know upon what viands the 
affluent of this day fed. In June Mr. 
Anthony records he had roast beef, 
"a rarity at this season." But he had 
stall fed wild pigeon and partridge 
pie, fried oysters, venisoned mutton, 
souse and sausages, ate strawberries 
in James Arnold's garden, attended a 
corn pudding party and a cherry and 
cucumber party, had radishes "from 
the seed that grew this year," apples 
"Which grew on my English Royal 
dwarf received from France this 
spring. It was in bloom when set out. 
The color red and white and very 
fine flavour." He set casks of wine 
to settle, Madeira and port which he 
bottled himself. 

Joseph read the Waverly Novels and 
Miss Edgeworth's novels sent to 
Henry Grinnell in New York to send 
him "Peveril of the Peak" and the 
"Pioneers," read Las Casas's Journal, 
"Quentin Derwood," "Reginald Dal- 
ton," Butler's "Hudibras." 

There are many stories of trips to 
New York. Sometimes the Rotch's 
went along and they drove to New- 
port in a gig, of the type of William 
Rotch's chaise, where a steamer was 
taken. The traveling facilities were 



primitive. One day Mr. Anthony sent 
his man on horseback to Newport to 
get "Sovereign Salve" for his wife. 
There are stories of stage trips with 
merry songs. 

The business record is no less in- 
teresting. The names of famous ships 
appear, like the Maria, which was a 
bridal present of Samuel Rodman 
from his father-in-law, William 
Rotch. This is the vessel that secured 
in some quarters the erroneous fame 
of being the first vessel to fly the 
American flag in the Thames. It is 
the vessel that took Mr. Rotch to 
England and France, when he met the 
French king and held an interview 
which resulted in establishing the 
whaling industry at Dunkirk. The 
Maria brought the famed horse, Ro- 
man to New York and Mr. Anthony 
writes of the curiosity of the New 
Yorkers who visited the vessel in 
crowds. This vessel had a remarkable 
history. Also there is mention of the 
"Ann Alexander." George Howland 
named her for an Irish Friend who 
was traveling in this country. 

Incidentally Mr. Anthony did busi- 
ness with John Jacob Astor on one 
New York trip. Even in that day 
business men were looking for lar- 
gesse through a tariff. Mr. Anthony 
records a meeting to petition for a 
tax on tallow. 

At the period this record was 
made the population of New Bed- 
ford was less than 4000, having lost 
nearly 10 00 in population since the 
census ten years preceding. This was 
due to dull business following the 
war in 1812. Early records in the 
diary emphasize the depression and 
encircling gloom with respect to the 
business outlook. For example: 

"The great scarcity of money and 
disputes on religious matters are the 



[ 9 1 



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great topics of conversation through 
the town." 

"Retrenchment of expenses in liv- 
ing is the cry on all sides but few 
are ready to commence. Cornelius 
talks strongly of going down to the 
farm to live, but it will probably all 
end in talk." 

New Bedford was at this time a 
sparsely built village on the hillside. 
Clarks Point was wooded. There were 
woods at the westward. The man- 
sions of the rich were of a type like 
that of the Rodman and Rotch man- 
sions. Moses Grinnell, of whom so 
much is written in the diary, lived 
with his father, Captain Cornelius 
Grinnell, a merchant whose early life 
was spent ,on the sea. He was one of 
the incorporators of the Bedford 
bank in 1803. In 1811 Capt. Grin- 
nell bought the house of Asa Russell 
on the northwest corner of Acushnet 
avenue and Grinnell streets, still 
standing, now occupied as a boarding 
house. William Rotch who was a vital 
factor in the development of whaling 
and other business activities died in 
182 8 and the following year his house 
was opened as a hotel under the 
name of the Mansion House. His son, 
William Rotch, Jr., lived at the cor- 
ner of William and Water streets In 
the house now used as the Mariners' 
Home, which was given to the Port 
Society by Mrs. James Arnold, his 
daughter, after his decease in 1850. 
Samuel Rodman lived at the north- 
west corner of Water and William 
streets, later used as a bakery. The 
stone building on the east side of 
Water street was in existence. It was 
the candle works of Samuel Rodman. 
John Avery Parker was living in the 
mansion on the southeast corner of 
Purchase and Middle streets, later 
the Parker House. George Howland 
lived at the northeast corner of Wal- 



nut and Seventh streets. He manu- 
factured sperm oil products in a stone 
building at the foot of North street. 
James Arnold had moved from his 
house at the southwest corner of 
South Water and Madison streets to 
his new brick house at the head of 
Spring street where he had created 
"Arnold's Garden." Mr. Arnold came 
here from Rhode Island, began his 
career under the tutorship of William 
Rotch and married the daughter of 
William Rotch, Jr. He was a member 
of the firm of William Rotch, Jr. & 
Co. The Eagle Hotel was at the south 
west corner of Union and Fourth 
streets. There were fifteen wharves, 
eight spermaceti manufacturers, two 
rope walks and two banks. 

All the houses of New Bedford's 
wealthy men at this time were con- 
structed upon the same design, which 
is attributed to Henry B. Worth as an 
expression of the dominant infiuence 
on the social, religious and business 
life of the Society of Friends. In their 
zest to avoid ostentation, they adopted 
rigid uniformity of dress, speech, 
mode of living and style of house. 
They had before them the fact that in 
Nantucket a member was investigated 
by the meeting for a departure from 
the usual type of dwelling and anoth- 
er, for the same reason refused to 
visit his daughter in her home. 

The attempt has been made in this 
introduction to picture the little vil- 
lage a century ago, when Joseph An- 
thony wrote his diary. This diary is 
the spirit that unroofs the mansions 
and the counting houses and gives the 
reader entree into the intimacy of 
homes such as Asmodeus afforded 
Don Cleofas. The adventure will, we 
are sure, be no less entertaining than 
the celebrated fiight described by Le 
Sage. 

— Zephaniah W. Pease. 



[10] 






PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DIARIES 



LIFE IN NEW BEDFORD 
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. 



THE DIARY. 

1st Month 1st, 1823. 

A stormy and unpleasant day, with 
snow and rain. Robe. Brayton 
buried. 

2nd. Agreed with Jos. Rotch for 
the residue of the spernn oil of the 
Sophia's cargo unsold, belonging to 
the crew at 55 cts. p. gall, cash — for 
the Candle works. 

3d. Nothing of any note transpired 
today. Heard of the Brig Minerva 
from St. Thomas with 500 bbls. sperm 
oil. A great scarcity of money 
among the greater part of the inhabi- 
tants of the town. 

4th. Ship Atlas hauled off into the 
stream, considerable of a snow storm 
all the evening & night. 

5th. Sunday. Rained nearly all 
day — cleared away cold in the after- 
noon. William Foster, an Engl's'man, 
preached at our meeting house. Pick- 
ering, a Universalist, had a meeting 
at D. Davenport's shop. 

6th. A cold day — very slippery — 
spent the evening at Cora's. Had 
some oysters and then took a sleigh 
ride around town. 



7th. The harbour closed last night 
with ice below Palmer's Island. Wm. 
T. and Moses started for Newp,ort, & 
I embraced the opportunity to send 
W. B. a letter enclosing $10 for B. A. 
liliewise a bundle of clothes — took tea 
at Father's & spent the evening there. 

8th. A warm and pleasant day. 
The Wm. & Eliza got below the Island 
clear of the ice. W. T. Russell & 
Moses returned from Newport — con- 
tracted to manufacture some oil for 
the owners of the Robinson Potter. 

9th. The Atlas dropped below the 
Island. Received the intelligence this 
evening of the loss of the Sloop Eliza 
Nicoll — Capt. Perry, on her passage 
from hence to New York, she was en- 
deavoring to make Black Rock for a 
harbour, but struck going in on a 
rock called the Cowes, and immedi- 
ately filled. There were seven per- 
sons on board, five of whom perished, 
viz., Benjamin Fuller of this town, a 
Capt. Smith & an agent, Mr. Ed- 
mundson (who had been purchasing 
sperm oil) of N. York and two black 
men. Gershom Drew (mate of the 
Minerva last voyage) was saved. Capt. 
Perry was much bruised & frozen. 
It is expected the sloop will be lost 
entirely. The fate of the cargo is not 



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yet ascertained — she had not much 
freight on board — it consisted of oil 
belonging to the Candle works at 
Fairhaven — and fifty barrels S. Oil in 
the natural state purchased of John 
Coggeshall, Jr., by the person above 
mentioned. This sad accident took 
place on seventh day evening last, the 
4th inst, between 8 «& 9 o'clock, in a 
thick snow storm. There was also a 
son of Benja'n Fuller on board who 
likewise perished. 

10th. The weather for a day or 
two past has been so moderate that 
the Ice in the river is very much 
broken up. In the afternoon the 
wind N. W. and cold. Luther An- 
thony's sister died this morning after 
a long illness. 

11th. A cold and unpleasant day — 
in the afternoon the river again froze 
over, having been entirely broken up 
by the strong N.W. wind which pre- 
vailed last night. John Wood's new 
N. York packet dropped down below 
the island to be ready the first wind. 

12th. The Wm. & Eliza for the 
Pacific Ocean and the Atlas for Brazil 
Banks & the coast of Guinea sailed 
this morning — also the Sloop Rod- 
man for N, York. 

13th. Ch's Swain returned last 
evening from N. Orleans. 

14th. Took tea at Nat's in the 
evening — had an oyster supper. Ac- 
counts from Europe rec'd this evening 
state that the Holy Alliance had 
broken up, and that there were good 
reasons to believe that France would 
soon declare war with Spain. 

15th. The celebrated Methodist 
minister, M. Maffit, arrived in town 
and preached to a large assembly at 
the Methodist meeting house — he did 
not cause much excitement. 

16th. This day Micah H. Ruggles 
and Lydia Rodman informed the 
Friends meeting that they intended 



marrying each other, which occasions 
much talk among a certain class of 
the good friends. Heard this eve- 
ning of the arrival of Hathaway's 
Brig Horatio into New York. The 
master, Loum Snow, died two days 
before she arrived — also the Brig 
Clitus — Capt. Almy into New Port 
with a cargo of salt. 

17th. A very pleasant day. Father 
commenced filling his Ice house. 

18th. Nothing doing of any con- 
sequence in the town. The Reform- 
ation among the Baptist Society and 
Mr. Maffit is the principle talk of 
the day. 

19th. Mary Newell from Lynn was 
at meeting this afternoon, and many 
went in hopes she would preach, but 
were disappointed, myself among the 
number. 

20th. Rained all day. Benjamin 
Hill died last night. 

21st. Heard of the arrival of the 
Brig. Wm. Thacher at Rio Janario 
after a passage of 100 days. The 
Clitus came round from New Port 
this day. 

22d. Went this evening to hear 
Mr. Mafflt, the Methodist preacher 
he sang several Psalms alone with 
much elegance, but I did not admire 
his manner of preaching, being too 
theatrical, and an appearance of a 
want of sincerity to please my taste. 

23d. Catharine taken unwell this 
morning, rather better at noon. I 
went and dined at William's. Dr. 
Read staid all night. 

24th. Catharine has been quite 
smart all day. Two persons, a woman 
and a boy, were taken up for passing 
counterfeit money. 

25th. Nothing occurred during the 
day needful to be noted. 

26th. An unpleasant day — Sunday 
— did not go out of the house all day. 



[14] 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



27th. The great scarcity of money 
and disputes on Religious matters are 
the great topics of conversation 
throughout the town. 

28th. Rec'd a letter from my sister 
Mary at New Port in answer to the 
one I wrote by W. T. Russell. Paid 
Henry on a-c Ten Dollars. James 
Coggeshall was married this evening 
to Edward Wing's daughter Anna. 

29th. The sloop Eliza Nicols ar- 
rived last night from New York. "Wrote 
a letter to James Savage, Esq., Bos- 
ton, requesting information respect- 
ing Savings Bank, copy of which let- 
ter is in my Port Folio. Spent the 
evening at the Methodist meeting 
houso to hear Mr. Mafflt preach and 
sing. Was not well pleased and think 
I shall not go to hear him again. He 
has as yet not been very fortunate in 
making converts not more than twen- 
ty have come forward, and those 
mostly girls from eight to ten years 
of age, so that he hardly gets his 
share, in this day of Reformation. 

30th. Attended our meeting this 
forenoon to hear Mary Newell preach 
and was not disappointed the pleasure 
of hearing her. Dined at N. Hathaway 
— had an excellent haunch of mutton, 
cooked in veinson style. In the after- 
noon wrote to D. Southward of Mat- 
tapoisett respecting W. R. Rotch's 
demand against Libny Rogers' estate 
& enclosed the letter to Jos. Meigs 
that I might be sure he received it 
(memo). Wrote that unless he p'd 
the demand before the 17th next 
month he would be sued. Also wrote 
Henry Grinnell to send me Peveril of 
the Peak & the Pioneers. 

31st. Sloop Rodman — Capt. Wood 
— arrived from New York, carried 
away her main boom. The weather 
has been very mild during this 
month, and generally mild, this eve- 
ning it snowed for a little while quite 



briskly, and gave indications of their 
being good sleighing, but cleared 
away cold & very little snow fell. 

February. 

2d Mo. 1st. Rec'd an answer from 
letter to Jas. Savage, unfavorable to 
my wishes. The letter will be found 
with the copy of mine to him. 

2d,. A pleasant day. After dinner 
took Catharine to ride as far as the 
Point. Mary Newell preached an ex- 
cellent sermon at the afternoon 
meeting. About sun set a Brig, was 
seen coming into the bay supposed to 
be the Minerva. The packet Experi- 
ment Capt. Taber — sailed this morn- 
ing for N. York. 

3d. The Brig, seen yesterday went 
down sound. Snowed nearly all day, 
but the quantity fell was trifling. 

4th. Sleighing pretty good. Took 
Catherine to ride as far as the Beach 
in the Slaygh. At 5 o'clock C. was 
taken unwell and at 9 o'clock she 
was put to bed with a Boy, having 
got thro the business as well as could 
be expected. 

5th. A pleasant day. Took a 
sleigh ride in the morning with Sis- 
ter Susan and Willy. 

6th. The coldest day we have had 
this winter. In the evening an ap- 
pearance of a storm. Catharine gets 
along very well. 

7th. Another very cold day. The 
river entirely closed with Ice. Meri- 
beh Keith and Benj'n Russell re- 
turned from Charleston by packet to 
N. York, and then by land — got here 
this evening. 

8th. The weather much milder — 
some appearance of a snow storm. 
Cath. not so well today. 

9th. Sent Henry a horseback to 
Newport to get some salve for Cath- 
arine,. Went to meeting in the fore- 
noon. Mary Newell was there and 



[ 15 ] 



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gave us an excellent sermon. After 
she sat down Caleb Greene got up 
and denounced her in a very unhand- 
some manner. The greater part of 
the meeting I trust for the honour of 
the Society felt a contempt for his 
mean and pitiful conduct. Immedi- 
ately on his taking his seat, Sam. 
Rodman rose in vindication of Mary, 
and informed the meeting the manner 
she had been persecuted at Lynn, 
made some appropriate remarks, and 
concluded by saying that for the testi- 
mony she had that day borne, we 
could judge for ourselves whether it 
was in the truth or not. Dined at 
brother William's — went to meeting 
again in the afternoon. M. Newell 
gave us another sermon to my great 
satisfaction and I hope to that of 
many others. She also appeared in 
supplication. About one third of the 
asembly kept their seats to show they 
were not in unity with her — no oppo- 
sition, however, otherwise than not 
rising at her prayer was 

manifested by the Old Lights. In 
the morning meeting after S. Rodman 
took his seat and the audience was 
leaving B. Rodman made some re- 
marks to favour M. Newell. Took 
tea at N. Hathaway's and spent the 
evening with him. Sister Susan to 
whom we applied to select a name 
for our Boy, informed us she had 
chosen that of Edward, which name 
we shall give him,. Mr. Maflitt still 
continues to attract a full house. 
Reformations and Revivals, as they 
are called, seem to be the order of 
the day. It is to be hoped some 
good will result from them, but the 
contrary is much feared. 

10th. Henry returned this after- 
noon from Newport with the Sove- 
reign salve for Catharine. Took tea 
at father's with Mary Newell, Mary 
Rotch and some others. Had a very 



pleasant time. M. Newell has ap- 
pointed a meeting tomorrow evening 
to be held at Whitaker's (the first 
Congregational) Church. 

11th. Attended M. Newell's meet- 
ing. She sat in the pulpit accompanied 
by Sam'l Rodman «& his wife. Mary 
Rotch and Content Breed gave us a 
first rate Quaker sermon & prayer, 
the meeting was crowded to excess. 
So many members of the Friends 
Society attending the meeting gives 
much umbrage to the Old Lights. 

12th. Cornelius , William T, & 
Nathaniel dined with me today on 
roast mutton. We all went to Corn's 
in the evening to tea. Mary Newell 
and about twenty others were there. 
We had a very agreeable evening in- 
deed. She is a very interesting and 
amiable woman. It commenced 
snowing this morning about sunrise 
and continued to storm until noon. A 
good deal of snow fell and had the 
ground been in proper order we 
should have had good sleighing. 

13th. Spent the forenoon by tak- 
ing a sleigh ride with sister S. and 
Mr. Warren — dined and spent the re- 
mainder of the day at Corn's. 

14th. Dined at N. Hathaway's with 
C. G. Jr. & wife, W. T. R. & wife, 
Mary & Susan & Moses. Staid there 
until 10, in the evening. Commenced 
snowing about three o'clock, but in 
the evening it rained and made very 
bad walking. 

15th. This morning a Brig was 
seen at the S. W. end of Nashawlnna, 
supposed to be at anchor, but about 
11 o'clock she set all sail headed for 
the shore. It was then discovered sh« 
was ashore and they were endeavour- 
ing to force her as the tide was up 
as near the land as possible. In the 
afternoon John Wood & others in the 
Sloop Rodman went down to her to 
ascertain who she was. The signal 



[ 16 1 



II UI JJ l JJ 'i .»IXIM J JJJLU II JI. III 





NEW BEDFORD AT ABOUT THE PERIOD OF THE DIARY 

Top picture — Corner of Union and Purchase Streets — Street through the centre is 
Purchase Street. 

Lower Picture— Corner of Water and William Streets — The Cart stands at the 
corner of Front and Hamilton Streets. 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



the Brig had set resembled J. A. 
Parker's very much, and for tTie most 
of the day it was beUeved to be his 
brig Dragon, but at dark no alteration 
was made in the signal of the Rod- 
man — it is believed she does not be- 
long here. Spent the evening at Wil- 
liam Nye's. M. Newell was there. She 
and Mary Rotch both had some re- 
ligious remarks to make to us — had a 
very pleasant evening. 

16th. Attended the fore and after- 
noon meeting. M. Newell preached 
at both — she gave a long and able dis- 
course in the morning. No opposition 
was manifested by the old lights. 
Jeremiah Winslow was published to- 
day to Miss Norris, a teacher of the 
French language, a quite unexpected 
circumstance. Corn's & Betsey, Mary, 
Susan and Moses dined with me. Mr, 
Maffltt took his benefit this evening. 
I should be inclined to think it was 
rather a small one from the great 
scarcity of money. The Rodman re- 
turned this evening. The Brig 
ashore is the Two Brothers, of Bos- 
ton, from Campeachy, with Logwood, 
mahogany, etc. The Brig will prob- 
ably go to pieces, but the cargo may 
be saved if the weather should be 
moderate. The cook was washed 
overboard during the day and 
drowned. A ship was seen at noon 
to pass Quicksies Hole, and come to 
anchor in Tarpaulin Cove. She set 
her signal on the flagstaff — it is 
thought to be the Persia. 

17th. Benj'n Heathe, the rigger, 
died very suddenly last night of a 
complaint at the heart — he was out 
during the day and was as well as 
usual. Went over to Mattapoisett to 
see Dr. Wibbour Southward in the 
sleigh, Mr. Warren with me — found 
the Dr. had come to Bedford. Corn's 
had Mr. MafHt and some others to 
dine with him. No accounts from the 



ship — Mosher went over to her this 
morning. 

18th. The Pilot Boat returned 
from the Cove, and we find that the 
ship that was seen on Sunday was 
the Persia — Capt. Cross — full of 
sperm oil from the coast of Japan — 
wind favorable for the ship to get 
round. Dined at father's. Mary 
Newell left town this morning for 
home, and Mr. Maifit for Bristol,. 

19th. A fine day. Cousin Tom & 
Nathan dined with me. Persia not 
arrived. 

20th. The Persia got as far as 
Clark's point, but the Ice prevented 
her getting any further. Capt. Silas 
Parker died about 11 o'clock of a 
lung fevre. Received a confirmation 
from Moses of what I had suspected 
for some time. 

21st. The following is the list of 
Bedford ships which the Persia brings 
a-c of spoke June 18, 1822, Lat. 33.40, 
N. Long. 178 W.: 
Wilm'n. & L'pool packet 

(Briggs) 300 bbls. 

Minerva (Swain) 200 " 

Phoebe Ann 900 '* 

All those on the coast of Japan. 

Heard of the following at the Sand- 
wich Islands, April 15, 1822: 

Balaena (Gardner) 600 bbls. 

Geo. & Susan (Upham) . . . 300 " 
Independence (Hammond) . 540 " 

Frances (Swain) 550 " 

Minerva Smith (M'Ken- 

sie) 650 " 

Columbus (Brock) 300 " 

Abigail (Covell) 600 " 

Spoke Oct. 29, 1822, Lat. 67, 46 S. 
Long. 72 W. 

Ship Alliance Coffin, 150 days out. 

Received a letter from Capt. Swain 
of our Ship Minerva, dated June 18, 
saying he had 200 bbls. 

The sloops Rodman & Bedford 
went over to the Two Brothers to take 



[19] 



LIFE 



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in her cargo &c for the underwriters. 

Uined at W. C. Nye's with a party 
— had a very clever time. 

Rec'd an invitation from r. Whit- 
taker to hear his oration to be pro- 
nounced tomorrow, but declined ac- 
cepting. This evening at 11 o'clock 
sister Lydia Swain was delivered of a 
Boy. 

22d. The Ship Commodore Rod- 
gers — Capt. Smith — from the Brazil 
Banks, with about 1800 bbls. whale 
oil arrived — brought no later accounts 
from the fleet than October. She saw 
the Geo. & Martha who had lost her 
mate and one man by the staving of 
a boat. The birthday of Washington. 
D. K. Whitaker delivered an oration. 
Capt. Harrison paraded with his ar- 
tillery company, and then partook of 
a dinner provided at Cole's Hotel. 
From all account, the delivery of the 
Oration was ludicrous enough, and 
shew that the man was partially de- 
ranged. On the whole the celebration 
was a pretty small concern. In the 
evening the celebration was a pretty 
small concern. In the evening had 
an oyster supper — ^Nat, Moses, Tom, 
father & the girls were here. The 
Persia & C Rodgers both got up to 
the wharf. 

23d. Sunday — a pleasant day. The 
Persia commenced discharging her 
cargo, which made some stir being 
the first day in the week. Many con- 
sidered it wicked. Had a venison 
mutton dinner. Susan, Moses, War- 
ren & Tom dined with me. We had 
a pretty merry day. Moses in high 
glee, being his birthday, as well as 
elated with his success in his • • ♦ 
affair. 

24th. The most severe storm we 
have had this winter — a considerable 
snow and a very high wind. Mr. 
Delius in town. Dined at Corn's, be- 
ing too stormy to come home. Corn's 



found he should be complained of for 
a breach of the Sabbath yesterday — 
got Warren to enter a complaint 
against him & by that means saved 
half the expense. 

25thr The storm of yesterday did 
not abate much till about noon this 
day, when the Bedford and Rodman 
were discovered to be in a bad situa- 
tion. They had drifted out of Pune 
harbour and the former was on shore 
and the latter in the surf with signals 
of distress hoisted. The Sloop Henry 
with Joe. Allen and some others im- 
mediately put off to their assistance. 
Cleared away just before sunset very 
pleasantly. The mails for yesterday 
and today not been received owing 
to the severity of the weather. 

26th. The Bedford returned from 
the wreck — found they had not been 
in so bad a situation as was feared. 
They were both ashore at one time, 
but got off without damage. The old 
ice closed around them & prevented 
the sea doing them any injury. All 
the mails due this week arrived this 
evening. 

27th. The Leonidas — Capt. Potter 
— from the coast of Japan, arrived 
this evening full sperm oil — spoke the 
following July 23, 1822: 
Ship Abigail (Covell) 1100 bble. 

" Independence (Ham- 
mond) 1200 " 

*' Barclay (Glover) . . . 500 

" Minerva Smyth (Mc- 

Kensle) 700 " 

" Charles (Coffin) 800 " 

" Geo. & Susan (Up- 

ham) 350 " 

•' Frances (Swain) ... 700 " 

" Columbus (Brock) . . 850 " 

In Tombus roads October 25, 1822: 
Ship Phenlx (Worth) 60 bbls. 

" Swift (Pinkham) 370 " 

" Wm. Rotch (Tobey) 50 



[20] 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



Spoke Dec;. 31, Ship Richmond 3. The ship Com'e Rodgers tak- 

(William) full of elephant oil on her ing in her cargo of oil for Europe. A 

pasage home. Rec'd by this vessel cold day and evening. 

a letter from Capt. Glover of the Bar- 4th. A cold day. Catharine took 

clay dated coast of Japan, June 20, tea and spent the evening down stairs, 

with 400 barrels. The Brig Minerva Nat, Anna & Tom with us. 

Captain Wood — from the coast of Af- 5th. Catharine rode out this fore- 

rica full of sperm oil also arrived this noon. The girls and Warren dined 

evening, left on the coast Dec. 3, 1822: with u^. Mary R. Rotch gave a wed- 

Brig Nautilus (Covell) 170 bbls. ding party to Mr. & Mrs. Winslow 

Telemeckar (Long) 130 " invited, but did not feel well enough 

Sch. Packet (Delano) .... 165 " to go. 

Brig Industry (Parker) ... 130 " 6th. A stormy day— did not leave 

Indian Chief (Chase) None the house all day, not being very well. 

Planter (Hussey) None The Nantucket packet Maria arrived 

Thos. S. Hathaway & Capt. Taber for the first time this season, 

returned from N. York this evening. 7th. Nothing worthy of being 

28th. The Brig Beneset — Capt. noted this day, except the roguish 

Gardner — arrived from the Isle of conduct of P. R. Bates, which excites 

May with a cargo of salt. The Sloop much indignation among the good 

Ann Maria from N. York with the people he has duped, 

cargo of the Experiment got above -gtj,. A very pleasant day. Consi- 

the island & locked in with the Ice. derable stir about the wharves. The 

A large party at Father's of Rotch's, whalemen that arrived lately, dis- 

Rodmans &c. A ship in the Cove charging the Persia's cargo of sperm 

with a signal set on the flag staff— ^^ settled at 48 cents p. gall., the 

supposed to be the Richmond. jo^est price since the peace. The 

M^'ch. Sch'r Peacock — Capt. Storms — ar- 

ist The Ann Maria got up to the ^ived from Rio de la Hatcl^. A large 

wharf. Received a letter from Henry p^^^y ^^ ^^^j^^^,^ Evening passed off 

Gnnnell, also Peveril of the Peak & ^^^y pleasantly-part of the time 

the Pioneers. Dined at Jos. Rotch's ^p^^^ in dancing. Catharine made 

with a party of gentlemen-sat down j^^^. ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^.^^ ^^^^ ^^^ 

at the table about 5 o'clock and staid j^ome since her confinement. She 

till nine. In the evening C. H. War- ^^^j^ ^j^ ^.^^^ j returned home, 

ren's brothers, the Doct'r and Pel- „^^ „ , , 

, t • 4. ■ ^ £ T., 9th. Breakfasted and dined at 

ham came in — just arrived from Ply- ^ ^, , ^ . v* v» « 

mouth-we had a very merry and f^*^^''^- Returned home in the af- 

pleasant time . ternoon. Mr. Maffit again in town. 

„.„.,. , * J. His second appearance on the stage 

2nd. Catharine came down to dine ^ 

f *i, « * 4.- • 1- _ does not seem to cause as much ex- 

for the first time since she was con- ., ^ 

«,rr« 1VT Oil- -ijij citement as was manifested at his 
fined,. Tom, Moses & the girls dined 

with us. The Ship seen in the Cove _ ', „, , . „ ^ 

, . , . , • J it,- 10th. The ship Europa — Capt. 

day before yesterday arrived this ^ . i. , ^ ^ . ^,. ^ ^,1. 

, _. ^1- T,- 1- J Dunbar — hauled off in the stream this 

forenoon,. It was the Richmond .^ ^ ^ -r^ ^ ^ , ^ 

,„ . „,.,,. , .^, . ,, . afternoon. Capt. De Cost arrived 

(Capt. Williams) with a full cargo of . ^_ _ , 

,,..,'. , T .1- from N.. York. 

elephant oil. This evening Jere h ,,,.v- mi. x-. -i ^ ,..,.• 

Txr- 1 ■ J * uTi -VT . 11th. The Europa sailed this 

Winslow was married to Miss Norrlss , , „,. -n . ^ . ^ ^ , 

^ „, ^ ^ . , . morning for City Point, but returned 
at W. R. Rotch's. 

[21] 



LIFE 



I N 



NEW 



BEDFORD 



on account of the wind. Thomas 
Rotch left this forenoon for Phila. 
via New Port. T. Russell took him 
to the latter place; by T, Rotch I 
wrote to Hen'y Grinnell to get infor- 
mation respecting' the Savings Bank 
In N. York. At a party this eve'g at 
Jos. Rotch's. Rained very hard all 
the evening. 

12th. The Commodore Rodgers — 
Capt. Smith — sailed for Amsterdam 
this morning with a cargo of whale 
oil. Dined with a party of gentlemen 
at Nat. Hathaway's — had a very 
sumptuous time — staid till eleven, 

13th, The Europa sailed again 
this morning, but returned, the wind 
being unfavourable. Dined at W. T. 
Russell's with a family party. 

14th. Commenced raining about 
noon and continued to storm during 
the day & evening. A flock of wild 
geese were seen for the first time this 
Bpring. 

15th. The Europa succeeded in 
getting to sea this morning — very high 
wind all day. The overseers of the 
meeting visited Mary & Susan for at- 
tending J. Winslow's marriage and 
other offences of equal magnitude. 

16th. Sunday — did not go to meet- 
ing all day. Read Peveril of the 
Peak. Warren, Moses & Susan dined 
with us, 

17th. A dull day. A party at 
brother William's for Jim Coggeshall. 

18th. Capt. De Cost left for New 
York by the way of Newport. 

19th. The ministers & elders held 
a meeting today for the purpose of 
examining M. Rotch & E. Rodman 
for their unity with M. Newell, &c. 

20th. Commenced snowing this 
morning about sunrise and continued 
to snow till noon. A pretty large 
quantity fell. In the evening more 
snow fell. 

21st. Rather windy. Pretty good 



sleighing. Took a ride in the after- 
noon. The horse threw some dirt and 
snow in my eye, which caused me a 
good deal of pain and prevented my 
being at brother Wm's in the evening 
at a large party. 

22d. Confined to the house all day 
to prevent getting cold in my eye. 
Cousin Tom spent the greater part 
of the day and evening with us. 

23d. This morning about 3 o'clock 
sister E. T. Grinnell was confined with 
a daughter, which is a very pleasing 
thing to the family. The wind N. E. 

From twelve to fifteen small ves- 
sels sailed this morning bound to the 
westward, among them the Rodman 
for N. York. She had been waiting 
a wind for ten days. Jere'h Winslow 
and lady were among the passengers 
going to embark for Havre at N,. 
York. W. Swain also a passenger for 
Phila. Cousin Tom, Moses & Susan 
dined with us. On the 23d of last 
month I attributed part of the fine 
spirits which Moses was in to its be- 
ing his birthday, but since find I was 
mistaken, and it was all owing to the 
other source, today being his birth- 
day — twenty years old. This evening 
Mr. Maffit preached his farewell ser- 
mon. Catharine never having heard 
him, felt a strong desire to attend his 
meeting. She went with the girls &. 
others. She was not well pleased 
with the man, and had not much 
opinion of his sincerity. Miss Ar- 
nold was among those that knelt to 
receive his prayers. O Mores! O 
tempores! 

24th. Nothing occurred during the 
day to be noted. 

25th. The Brig Parthian — Capt. 
Nye — arrived this morning, 35 days 
from Lisbon with salt & wine. We 
rec'd a quantity of Port wine for 
our own use and to sell. Capt. Nye 
brings accounts that there Is no doubt 



[22] 




"'''^^-^'*^ -.-^ ■^.^»,i^»».^ai,i~~f.»^^ . J^-i.^^. .- 



From a portrait owned by Mrs. Morgan Rotch. 



MOSES H. GRINNELL 
In His Youth. 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



in Lisbon but what Spain & France 
-will soon be at war. There was also 
a report that the French had cap- 
tured a Spanish frigate. 

26th. A steady snow storm all day 
— more snow has fallen this day than 
has before at any one time this win- 
ter. Capt. Hardin came off from the 
Vineyard. The Ship Spermo of Nan- 
tucket from coast of Japan was in at 
Oldtown with 2000 bbls. sperm oil — 
brings a-c of the foll'g Bedford ves- 
sels: 

June. Roscoe (Swain) 250 

Aug. 19. Balaena (Gardner) ... 1500 

Aug. 31. Charles (Coffin) 1250 

Aug. 31. Columbus (Brock) ...1200 
Sept. Independence (Ham'd ...1450 

At Sandwich Islands: 
Oct. Frances (Swain) 1300 

" Triton (Wood) 1200 

W. & L'pool packet 

(Briggs) 1300 

Minerva (Swain) 800 

Barclay (Glover) 700 

Com'e Decatur (Tilton) . . 250 

(Leaky & under repairs at the 
Sandwich Islands.) 

Phoebe Ann put away for home 6 
weks before Spermo. 

27th. The trustees of the Academy 
had a meeting last evening to alter 
one of their rules, that no one but a 
member of the Society of Friends 
could be a Trustee. Chs. Swain and 
Alice Brayton passed meeting. 

An arrival in to New London from 
the Banks report the following Bed- 
ford ships: 

Jan,. Pacific 1000 bbls. 

Jan. Millwood 1000 " 

Jan. Martha 1400 " 

Jan. 16. Timoleon 2000 '* 

Jan. 6,. Midas 900 " 

Dec. 14. Maria Theresa ..1000 " 
Dec. 14. Geo. & Martha . , 400 " 

Dec. 25. Victory 1100 " 

Dec. 28. Herald 600 " 



Dec. 28,. Ann Alexander ..1250 " 
Nov. Good return 600 '' 

28th. Very bad walking indeed — 
nothing to remark. 

29th. The large quantity of 
Sperm'i oil expected this summer 
from the Japan fishery by the a-c by 
the Spermo, is the general topic of 
conversation, and the general belief 
that this article will decline to 35 or 
33 1-3 cts. p. gall. Retrenchment of 
expenses in living is the cry on all 
sides, but few are ready to commence. 
Cornelius talks strongly of going 
down to his farm to live, but it will 
probably all end in talk. 

30th. Sunday. Had a fine leg of 
roast mutton for dinner. Corn's and 
Capt. Smith dinner. Wind very 
strong to the eastward, some snow 
and rain. The Ship Martha from the 
Banks with a full cargo of whale oil 
arrived this morning. Nothing later 
from the whalemen except the Geo. 
& Martha with 1000 whale & 120 
sperm. 

31st. The wind blew a gale all 
night with a considerable snow. The 
storm continued during the whole day 
and we had by far the most tempestu- 
ous storm this day that we have had 
the past winter. It is remarked that 
the month of March this year has 
been more boistrous than for a num- 
ber of years. 

April. 

1st. The Brig Union of Dresden 
(Maine) from the W. Indies with 
Rum, Molasses, &c. got ashore on 
Cuttyhunk during the storm yester- 
day — some prospect of her being got 
off. The Emily goc ashore in Wood's 
Hole & parted her best cable — sus- 
tained no other injury. Yesterday 
and today's mails did not reach town 
till eleven this evening — travelling ex- 
ceeding itad. 



[25] 



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2d. The Nantucket packet got off 
with the friends to the Quarterly 
Meeting. She spoke the ship that was 
going down the Sound — it was the Im- 
provement of Nantuclcet, been out 33 
months. The packet men understood 
them to say that the Swift was on 
the coast with 1200 barrels which we 
think must be a mistake,. Key of the 
store broken. 

3d. Received a letter from Capt. 
Glover of the Barclay dated 11 Oct. 
He was then Wahoo with 800 bbls. 
After recruiting he intended to go to 
the coast of Mexico. Also a letter 
from Capt. Swain of the Minerva at 
the same place with 800 bbls. He 
Intended to proceed to the coast of 
California to fill. The Brig Traveller 
— Capt. Warren — arrived this morn- 
ing with 200 barrels sperm oil. The 
whole crew were all blacks. Two of 
the crew got to quarrelling, and one 
of them was thrown overboard and 
drowned — the other was brought 
home in irons. 

Quarterly Meeting day a public 
friend here from the state of Ten- 
nessee. In the last meeting there 
was some considerable excitement 
caused, during the business in the ap- 
pointment of an elder. Philip Dun- 
ham made some observations of the 
Importance of the station of an elder, 
that great care should be taken In 
selecting them, &c. Corn's Howland 
(Uncle Casey) followed him and said 
that he heartily approved the ap- 
pointment & requested that the meet- 
ing would proceed & not pay any at- 
tention to what Philip had said, as 
he had done enough to cause him 
to be under dealing, by countenancing 
Contentious and disorderly women 
(alluding to Mary Newell and 
Mary Rotch). Andrew Robinson Im- 
ffmediately rose and said that is a 
lie! (meaning they were not conten- 



tious). Nothing more was said & 
the business proceeded. Cousin Tom, 
Moses and Sue dined with us. In the 
evening attended a caucus for fur- 
thering the election of W. G. Otis for 
Gov. of the State, The Rodman ar- 
rived from N. York. 

4th. Our cousin Thos. S. Russell 
left us this morning in the Sch. Pea- 
cock to New York on his way to Car- 
lisle in Pennsyl'a. Wind N. W. blow- 
ing pretty fresh. He had spent 
about ten months with us and his 
friends had got very much attached 
to him. His leaving will cause a 
blank in our circle which will not be 
easily filled. In the afternoon the 
wind got farther to the westward and 
cousin Tom came back. 

5th. Cousin Tom sailed again this 
morning, wind fair, but the Sch'r got 
aground on the fort flat and lay there 
till eleven o'clock, when it was near- 
ly calm. They did not get out of the 
bay before four o'clock. Wind S. W. 
6th. The Peacock put into Padan 
Aram and cousin Tom returned to 
town, dined and spent the day with 
us. Warren returned from Plymouth. 
The Rev. Mr. Taylor, a Catholic 
priest, preached this afternoon & 
evening at Whitaker's church. 

7th. Town meeting day. A con- 
siderable opposition to the old town 
officers, but the old town clerk, 
treasurer & collector of taxes was re- 
elected and other oflacers to the sat- 
isfaction of the better & more respect- 
able part of the Inhabitants were 
elected in opposition to the Influence 
of Holme's Society, and the needy 
Shaylers that have come Into the 
town the year or two past. Great ex- 
ertions were made this afternoon by 
the Democrats in voting for governor. 
They succeeded in getting a larger 
vote than has been given since we 
were separated from Pairhaven. 



[26] 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



Gov, Otis, 325; Eustis, 113. 

Lt. Gov. Noble, 334; Lincoln. 111. 

iRotch 372, Hodges 110, 
Senators) Starkweather 335, Mason, 92, 
|Read 337. Merribus 88. 

8th. Uncle Elkanah went to Bos- 
ton this moorning after his wife. Wrote 
Henry Grinnell this morning by 
cousin Tom (who is still detained by 
contrary winds) to make a deposit in 
the Savings Bank in New York of 
$500 for our son Edward to remain 
21 years from the date of the deposit. 
A ship gone into Tarpaulin Cove this 
afternoon, supposed to be the Timo- 
leon. The a/c tonight from Bostoyn 
of the state of the votes there and the 
neighbouring towns for Governor, sure 
such as to make it very doubtful if 
Otis the federal candidate is elected, 
also doubtful whether the senators In 
this county of the federal ticket will 
be elected. This will be a mortifying 
circumstance to Tom Rotch. The New 
England Gazette, a Democratic paper, 
published for the first time this day. 

9th. Wind N. E. and cousin Tom 
has succeeded in getting out of sight 
of Bedford for the first time in his 
several attempts. It bids fair for him 
to have a fine passage. The Timo- 
leon, Capt. Starbuck, with 2300 bbls. 
whale & 250 bbls. of sperm oil and 
6000 bone arrived from the Banks, 
brings no late accounts from the 
whalemen. 

10th. Micah H. Ruggles and Lydia 
Rodman married. Elisha Haskell's 
wife died this evening. 

11th. Uncle Elkanah & wife re- 
turned from Boston — Spent the eve- 
ning at Nat's. 

12th. Got my cask of Port fixed 
in the cellar to settle. Town meeting 
day — held in the Friends old meet- 
ing house. There was a great excite- 
ment on the subject of money for the 
support of schools. Some wished to 



raise the sum of $1200 in addition to 
$1400 already in the town treasury 
for that purpose. Jas. Arnold and 
John S. Russell spoke at a consider- 
able length against and Tim. G. 
Coffin in favour of raising the addi- 
tional sum. The subject was discussed 
till about noon when the vote was 
taken by counting of hands; ayes, 76; 
nays, 91, but there being a good deal 
of objection to this manner of decid- 
ing the quBotion owing to the difficulty 
of counting the hands, the meeting 
adjourned till the afternoon to decide 
it by ballot. T. G. Coffin contended 
that every man should have the privi- 
lege whether he was a legal voter or 
not, but this was overruled and the 
subject was decided in the negative, 
ayes 142; nays 189. This and other 
town affairs occupied the remainder 
of the day. It was the wish of the 
lower with some of the middling 
class of the inhabitants of the town 
& most of Holmes' society with J. A. 
Parker & Tim. G. Coffin at their head, 
to have all the children of the Town 
to be educated together at the public 
expense in town schools, but they 
found the town too aristocratic to 
cari-y a thing of this kind into opera- 
tion. The Rodman sailed for New 
York. 

13th. A very pleasant day. The 
brig Franklin — Capt. Delano — with a 
cargo of oil sailed for Bremen early 
this morning. Dined at father's — 
spent the evening at Nat's. 

14th. N. Hathaway went to Bos- 
ton this morning, 

15 th. The Balaena — Capt. Gard- 
ner — 4% months from Wahoo with 
2100 bbls. sperm oil arrived this morn- 
ing having been absent 20 months, 
11 days. Reports the following Bed- 
ford vessels later than the Spermo: - 
At Wahoo in the 11th month 1822. 



[27] 



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Maryland Folger 1500 bbls. 

Minerva Smyth. .M'Kenzie. . 1500 
Independence. . .Ham'd. . . .1600 

Roscoe Swain 600 

Heard of the following ships in 

10th mo. 

Abigail Covell 1400 

Columbus Brock 1350 

Geo. & Susan. .. .Upham. .. . 900 

Capt. Gardner says there is a Rus- 
sian frigate on the North West en- 
forcing the Emperor Alexander's edict 
prohibiting all vessels coming near 
that part of the American coast, he 
claims. Mary & Susan had another 
visit this forenoon from the overseers 
of the meeting to labour with them 
respecting their dress and address, 
and informed that they should make 
a complaint to the meeting. Dined at 
Cornelius*. 

16th. The Brig Beneset hauled off 
in the stream. The brig Elizabeth — 
Capt. Blackamore — arrived this eve- 
ning from the Western islands with 
a cargo of goatskins, salt, &c. 

17th. Planted some potatoes & 
sowed raddish seed. The overseers 
of the meeting entered a regular com- 
plaint in the preparative meeting this 
day against Mary and Susan for no*, 
conforming to the Discipline in the 
all important points of Dress, Ad- 
dress, attending disordjerly mar- 
riages (viz. the marriage of Jere'h 
Winslow and mine) and frequenting 
places of public amusements. After 
some debat!? it was concluded to car- 
ry the complaint up to the monthly 
meeting next week,. The girls have 
got their feelings a good deal excited, 
and will probably resign their mem- 
bership. The girls with Warren & 
Moses dined with us. In the after- 
noon the girls came down to the 
counting room to be weighed — Mary 
94. Sue 90 Katy 88. Mr. Griffiths 
cam« in the stage to attend the trial 



next week in Taunton for his assault 
on John Randolph, a slave, whom he 
attempted to carry off. 

18th. The Brig Wm. Thacher — 
Capt. Allen — arrived this morning at 
7 o'clock, 71 days from Rio de 
Janerio with coffee and sugar, hav- 
ing made a very bad voyage for the 
shippers. Capt. sick, not having 
been able to be on deck for two 
weeks past. 

19th. Planted cucumber and 
squash seed. The Rodman arrived 
in 27 hours from N. York, the letters 
were all carried to the Post office, 
which caused much trouble and vex- 
ation. Rec'd from Henry Grinnell 
the first trees I sent for, also a book 
from the Savings Bank acknowledg- 
ing the deposit he made for our son 
Edward. The Beneset — Capt. Gard- 
ner — sailed this morning for Charles- 
ton, but returned in the afternoon on 
a-c of the wind. We took tea and 
spent the evening at father's. 

20th. Sunday. This morning we 
had an edifying sermon from Wm. 
James on the great importance of 
dress. He alluded pretty pointedly 
to Mary & Susan on the sinfulness 
of their gay attire. Anna Hathaway 
dined with us. Thos. Rotch, wife 
and Miss Julia Stockton arrived 
from Phila.. also Eliza Rotch. 

21st. Set out the fruit trees re- 
ceived from New York. Some of the 
crew of the Pacific got in town for a 
pilot, left her in Tarpaulin Cove with 
2000 bbls. whale oil. Nat Hathaway 
returned from Boston this day — had 
a cancer taken out just under his eye. 
The Ship Persia (Capt. Merrihew) 
sailed this evening for Savannah to 
load for Europe. Concluded to go to 
N. York in the Sophia when she 
goes. 

22d. The Brig Beneset — Capt. 
Gardner — sailed this morning for 



[28] 




From a portrait owned by Mrs. Morgan Rotch, 



MRS. MOSES H. GRINNELL 

Who was Susan Russell, one of the daughters of Gilbert Russell, who resigned from 
the Society of Friends rather than accept discipline. 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



Charleston. Dined at N. Hathaway's. 
The Pacific got up above the Island. 
Catharine's girl Alice came to live 
with us this day. W. T. Russell went 
to Taunton to sit on the Jury. Israel 
Thorndike and family in town from 
Boston. 

23d. The Ann Alexander — Capt. 
Bates — from the Banks with 1600 
barrels whale oil arrived at noon — 
brought nothing later from the Bank 
fleet than before received. At sunset 
some thunder and lightning with 
rain. 

24th. Monthly meeting day. Mary 
and Susan resigned their right of 
membership. Before the business of 
the meeting commenced Susan went 
up to the clerk (who had taken her 
seat) and handed her their resignation 
and requested her to read it to the 
meeting, and then they both left. 
After meeting Mother, Corn's, L. 
Swain, Anna, Mary & Susan with 
Moses, came to our house, and we had 
the doings of both meetings canvassed 
in great style. In the men's meeting 
great concern was felt by Obadiah & 
Job that the meeting should be in- 
formed why the marriage of Micah 
Ruggles was delayed longer than was 
generally customary. Obadiah said it 
would be very savory to him if some 
explanation could be given, that if 
friends would consult the Lord they 
would go forward at the proper time 
and there would be no delay. Peter 
Barney informed that he attended the 
marriage and it was orderly conduct- 
ed & in an arch manner thought the 
meeting better drop the subject and 
they had made their report to the 
first monthly meeting after it had 
taken place. Oba'h observed that he 
did not mean to consult the over- 
seers; they, he presumed, had done 
their duty — nothing further was said 
on this subject. Nothing occurred to 



cause much excitement until the 
women came in to inform they were 
about denying unity with two or three 
girls for marrying contrary to disci- 
pline. The first cases were disposed 
of pretty freely, but the last caused 
them to flag a little; none approved 
of it but Obadiah & Job (the butchers 
of the meeting) a considerable pause 
ensued. When Ben'n Rodman rose & 
said he rejoiced to find them pause, 
it appeared they were weary of this 
work of slaughter & death. The clerk 
(A. Sherman, Jr.) rose and said that 
it had fallen to his lot to inform the 
meeting that they (the overseers) had 
had an interview with Cornelius 
Howland, on a/c of some expressions 
he had made use of at the last quar- 
terly meeting (see 3d inst) that the 
friend regretted having so done and 
requested him to make an acknowl- 
edgement for him to the meeting. 
They had also visited A. Robeson for 
his reply to Corn's and found the 
words were entirely unpremeditated 
on his part. Micah observed he was 
very well satisfied with the friend's 
acknowledgement as far as it went, 
but wished he would go back about 
a year and make an acknowledgement 
for the abusive language & insinua- 
tions he made in the quarterly meet- 
ing about his friend Benj'n Rodman. 
Nothing further was said & the sub- 
ject was dropped. At the conclusion 
of the meeting B. Rodman observed 
that he intended to touch on the sub- 
ject of the Select Meeting, that the 
discipline required that when the 
monthly meeting thought that an- 
other Elder was necessary, they ap- 
pointed one, but new the Elders were 
a self-created body, that they took 
upon themselves to appoint whom 
they pleased, and were the most for- 
ward to approve in the monthly meet- 
ing their own appointments, that 



[31 ] 



LIFE 



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BEDFORD 



they were a corrupt branch of a cor- 
rupt tree. He alluded in a cutting 
way to the conduct of Corn's Howland 
& Caleb Green. Ben's remarks were 
said to be very good. This is all I 
learnt worthy of note of the doings 
of the men's meeting this day. 

In the women's meeting much time 
was taken up in appointing a Com- 
mittee to wait on Mary & Susan. 
Twelve were appointed before they 
could get three to serve. While they 
were endeavouring to get some one to 
serve Sarah Arnold requested the 
clerk to read the communication of 
Mary & Susan, and that might prob- 
ably save them from the trouble of 
the appointment of a committee. 
They still continued to nominate, and 
Sarah Morgan also requested that the 
clerk would read what the girls had 
handed her. No notice, however, was 
taken of either of these requests, they 
being not of the right stamp in the 
meeting. Now Debby Otis' ire began 
to rise. She said that it was wrong 
for the meeting to put the burthen on 
a few and insisted on some one's ac- 
cepting the appointment. At last they 
succeeded and this important trust 
was given to Sands Wing's wife, Oba- 
diah Davis' wife & Debby Otis. Then 
they let the subject rest until the 
other business was completed. When 
the Clerk read the girls' note & re- 
quested to be informed what she 
should do with it, then Debby said 
this indeed confirms me, and was 
echoed by her satellites, and the 
meeting ended. This alluded to some- 
thing she had before observed that 
the overseers had performed their 
duty and that it was most proper for 
the complaint against the girls to be 
carried before the monthly meeting. 
No instructions were given the clerk 
to put their resignation on the 



records. The following is a copy of 
the girls' resignation: 
To the New Bedford Monthly Meet- 
ing of Women Friends: 

We have heard the report of the 
Overseers against us (which was 
laid before the last preparative meet- 
ing) for deviations from the Disci- 
pline; some of which have long been 
considered by the Society, not very 
important in their nature; and not 
such, we beliieve, as friends have 
deemed necessary to lay before their 
meetings. Altho' we have a regard 
for the Society, and fully believe in 
its fundamental principals; — ^yet con- 
sidering the conduct of some of the 
overseers towards us; the spirit in 
which the report was carried for- 
ward; its reception in the meeting; 
and above all, the present situation 
of the meeting; we think it most 
proper to relinquish our right of 
membership, and not wishing to oc- 
casion Friends any trouble, we 
request that a Committee may not 
be appointed to visit us; as we are 
unwilling to subject ourselves to the 
repetition (<r interviews similar to 
those we have had with the overseers. 
Signed 

Mary Russell, 
Susan Russell. 

New Bedford 

4 Mo. 24, 1823. 

25th. Mary and Susan received a 
note this morning from the commit- 
tee appointed by the meeting to visit 
them, requesting an interview at 9 ' 
o'clock. They wrote them word they 
declined seeing them. 

26th. The Sophia hauled off in 
the stream this morn'g. Purchased 
on joint account with Jos. Rotch 100 
bags coffee from the Wm. Thacher's 
cargo at 25 cts., 4 mo. credit, and 
have put it on board the Sophia for 
exportation. Wm. T. & Warren 



[32] 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



spent the evening with us. They had 
just returned from Taunton. Mr. 
Griffiths case was referred to the Law 
term. 

27th. The Ship Geo. & Martha — 
Capt. Randall — arrived this after- 
noon from the Brazil Banks with 
2000 bbls. of oil, 150 of it sperm. 
Brings no late accounts of any whale- 
men. 

28th. This morning at sunrise 
went off to the Sophia and got under 
weigh at 10 minutes past 6 o'clock 
with a fine N. E. wind and were off 
Seconnet point at 20 minutes past 9, 
when the wind became very scant and 
to the S. E. At 10 o'clock we were 
past Point Judith — at 4 abreast of 
Watch Hill light, wind south — % past 
9 abreast of Gull light. During the 
night the wind was very light and at 
S. W. 

29th. The wind breezed up again 
a little about sun rise to the N. E. and 
at % past 8 we were abreast of Falk- 
land island light house — wind very 
light indeed and the weather very 
pleasant — ^abreast of Mount Misery at 
Yi before 2 o'clock. From this time 
until 4 o'clock almost calm, when the 
wind sprang up to the southward 
with a small breeze. The Ship Leon- 
idas which got under weigh yester- 
day morning soon after we did, and 
was in sight at sunset, has not been 
seen today. At 5 o'clock wind S. W., 
a considerable breeze. Took in the 
Royals for the first time off Hunting- 
don light house. The breeze lasted 
but a few moments and it was calm 
all night with slight breezes. At sun- 
set twenty-seven small vessels in 
sight. 

30th. At day light the wind breezed 
up fair again. At 7 o'clock Sands 
point abreast of us. At 20 minutes 
past 8 we were off Frogs point — the 
wind very scant. About eleven a pilot 



came on board and we got thro' Hell 
gate at % past twelve. It was very 
pleasant sailing from Frogs point to 
the City from 30 to 40 sail close by us 
all the time. We arrived at the City 
at 3 o'clock — took my trunk to Bunk- 
er's in Wall street — found Cousin Tom 
Russell here, and went with him to 
Jos. Grinnell's to tea. 
May. 

1st. Wind N. E. with some rain — 
a very unpleasant day. Did not do or 
see much all daj' except get a few 
things to send by the packet. Spent 
the evening at J. Grinnell's. 

2d. This morning took a long 
walk up the East river with Edward 
Cruft to see the shipping. We went 
into the cabins of several of the line 
ships — they were fitted up in elegant 
style. Dined at Jos. Grinnell's. In 
the evening went to the Theatre to 
hear Matthews in Monsier Tonson. I 
was very much pleased with him In- 
deed. The scenery of the theatre is 
superb — the glass curtain had a fine 
effect, particularly in dancing. 

3d. Cousin Tom and myself took 
a walk to see the Battery, Judds 
Candle works &c — went on board the 
steam boat Chancellor Livingston. She 
is an elegant boat and fitted up in 
superb style. Cousin Tom dined with 
me and in the afternoon took a 
long walk in Broadway, Tom to 
see the pretty girls, and I to see 
everything I could — did not find many 
that we could call tolerably handsome. 
In the evening, as we had nothing to 
do, we went again to the Theatre. 
Very few people there when the first 
act was performed. We counted but 
eleven persons in the boxes. The play 
was the Soldiers Daughters, and the 
after piece the Forty Thieves. I had 
seen the same play performed in Bos- 
ton, but I think there was better act- 
ing this evening. 



[33] 



LIFE 



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BEDFORD 



4th. Sunday, Henry, Cousin Tom 
& myself went to the Roman Catholic 
Church a little while this morning. 
The Inside of the building is strik- 
ingly grand. We soon got tired of their 
proceedings, left and took a walk 
to Richmond Hill Garden, which is no 
great thing — went to I. W. Russell's 
to dine. In the evening took a walk 
alone on the Battery. They are at 
work widening this place, which when 
done will add very much to its beauty. 
It was a lonesome walk to me, not 
meeting among a thousand persons 
one that I knew. I returned to my 
lodgings and went to bed at 8 o'clock 
quite homesick. 

5th. Rec'd a letter from Catharine 
very unexpectedly, which put me in 
good spirits. Cousin Tom and myself 
took a long walk and then went to 
J. Grinnell's to accompany Sally, 
Sarah, Mary Minturn & Mary A. Rus- 
sell on board the Cortes, to partake 
of a collation. Her cabin is fitted up 
in grand style — red damask curtains, 
a great deal of gilt work and every- 
thing in the neatest order. After re- 
turning from the Cortes Henry, Cousin 
Tom and myself took a hack and went 
out to see the Stepping Mill which was 
in full operation. There were thirty 
persons on a wheel at a time, and as 
many more seated that every half 
minute a bell rings by machinery; one 
comes off & another takes his place, 
so each have fifteen minutes rest. Up 
stairs the females were at work. There 
were about half as many as in the 
men's apartment. It appeared very 
hard work for them. From thence we 
went to Harlem bridge, and had a 
very pleasant ride. Took tea at J. 
Grinnell's and staid there till 10 
o'clock and returning got as far as the 
Theatre, and not feeling much inclina- 
tion to sleep, went in. Mr. Matthews 
was playing the Polly Packet. His 



description of the passengers was won- 
derful. He is a very good ventriloquist. 
It was astonishing with what rapidity 
he changed his dress & appeared in a 
new character 

6in. News received this morning 
of the Declaration of War by France 
against Spain, and that hostilities had 
commenced. This intelligence has 
caused business to revive and the pros- 
pect seems very good for our obtaining 
a freight for the Sophia today. Very 
much to my regret. Cousin Tom left 
here this morning for Phila. I shall 
miss his company very much. From 
one to three o'clock I amused myself 
by walking up and down Wall street 
and stopping at the Coffee house — 
every body in a hurry — all bustle & 
confusion. This afternoon I met a 
procession of about three thousand 
children belonging to the Sunday 
Schools all with badges, and at the 
schools one of the boys carried a flag 
on which was painted the name of the 
church to which his school belonged. 
Went to see the painting of the ship 
wreck of the Albion. It was a very 
dark painting. It did not please my 
eye much. Took tea at J. Grinnell's. 
Mr. Green was there. Had a great deal 
to say about Dover — regretted very 
much his not being there while we 
were last summer &c, &c. 

7th. Did not do or see much dur- 
ing the day. In the evening felt 
lonesome and went to the Theatre. 
The play was the Clandestine Mar- 
riage. Mr. Matthews performed, and 
I was well pleased with the evening's 
entertainment, particularly so as I 
met with an adventure. I was seat- 
ed in the second row, In one of the 
front seats next a partition, to a box 
where a tall genteel looking gentle- 
man sat with two ladies. Just before 
the afterpiece commenced he turned 



[34] 




Prom a portrait owned by Lawrence Grinnell. 
GILBERT RUSSELL 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



around to me and requested I would 
do him the favour to take a seat with 
the ladies, as he was under the 
necessity of leaving for a short time, 
which I did. One appeared to be 
about sixteen, not handsome — the 
other, say thirty, quite interesting in 
her appearance. While the after- 
piece was performing, the eldest lady 
observed, that is Mr. Richies, point- 
ing to one on the stage, and made 
some remarks respecting him,. I did 
not appear to take much interest in 
him, and inquired if he performed in 
the play. She appeared quite struck 
and said that he was with them dur- 
ing the play, and asked me if I was 
not acquainted with him. She ap- 
peared very much surprised when I 
told her I had never seen him before, 
as she understood him to say I was 
an acquaintance. Then she told me 
Mr. Richies was her husband and be- 
longed to the Theatre. We had a 
very pleasant chat. After the per- 
formance was concluded and the 
boxes nearly cleared, and no Mr. 
Richies appearing, they appeared 
considerably mortified at their situa- 
tion. I offered to accompany them 
home, which they accepted, and 
thanked me very politely. I must 
confess altho' I had no right to have 
any suspicions of them, still I could 
not help feeling a number of times 
during the evening that I had been 
duped by some one, but, however, 
considering, I was a stranger, I was 
determined to take things as they 
should be and not to be too sus- 
picious. I w^aited on them a consid- 
erable way up Broadway, and then 
down Chamber street towards the N. 
River and left them at a genteel look- 
ing house. There was nothing in 
their manners or appearance that I 
could construe aught against, only 



the singularity of their situation, their 
accepting my offer to accompany 
them home, after knowing I was a 
stranger, and entirely unacquainted 
with Mr. Richies. They regretted 
that they had put me to so much 
trouble, and thanked me for my po- 
liteness. I came home undecided in 
my mind whether I was hoaxed or 
that they were whom they represent- 
ed, but I am determined to find out,. 
8th. A rainy day. Spent most of 
it in the house. Got an offer to load 
one-half the Sophia for Hamburg 
and have put her up for that place. 
Took tea and spent the evening at 
Henry's. It seemed almost like home. 
Not ascertained to my satisfaction 
about last evening's adventure, but 
have it in a fair train. 

9th. The person that I requested 
to ask Mr. Richies if he did leave 
his wife in the Theatre, told me that 
he did but he concluded some of his 
acquaintance would see her in the 
course of the evening and escort her 
home, and finding her gone conclud- 
ed this to have been the case. Re- 
ceived a letter from Catharine and 
one from Moses. Finished a letter to 
C. and sent it by mail and in the after- 
noon wrote again by a sloop. Aunt 
Sally Russell came from New Bed- 
ford in the Rodman. Succeeded this 
forenoon in obtaining a full freight 
for the Sophia to Hamburgh — John 
Jacob Astor the principal shipper. Re- 
ceived a very pressing invitation from 
Henry and Sarah to come and take up 
my abode with them, which I have 
accepted, as I did not like Wall street 
house at all, so much noise and con- 
fusion. 

10th. Took out of the Ship most 
of her ballast, ready to commence 
loading second day. Spent two houis 
this morning with Sarah to make 



[37] 



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some purchases for Catherine — took 
tea and spent the evening at J. W. 
Russell's, and returned to my new 
residence about 10 o'clock. A very 
fine day. 

11th. Sunday. Went w^ith Henry 
& Sarah to the friends meeting in 
Hester street — no preaching worth 
mentioning. Capt. Crocker arrived 
this morning from Liverpool. In the 
evening a large number of Sarah's re- 
lations called to see her. 

12th. A pleasant day — got all the 
ballast out of the ship & took in fifty 
casks rice. The ship Maria which 
arrived yesterday from London 
brought over the famed horse Roman. 
The people were flocking all day to 
see him. The ship lay alongside the 
Sophia in the morning and the crowd 
was so great passing & repassing her 
deck that we were obliged to get the 
master of the Maria to let us haul 
his ship across the dock, but the cur- 
iosity of the people was so great that 
they kept two boats constantly plying 
between the ship and the wharf and 
paid 12% cents each. It was very 
amusing to see whaA interest the 
horse excited. He is said to be a su- 
perb horse. I went on board to see 
him. He has a beautiful head and 
neck. The Eliza NicoU arrived at 1 
o'clock. Rob't Smith came in her. 
Rec'd no letter from Catharine, much 
to my disappointment. 

13th. Rained all day. Were un- 
able to do anything on board the ship. 
Henry and myself dined at Benj'n 
Minturn's. Had a very pleasant time, 
and was vejjr much pleased with my 
visit. His daughters Elizabeth & Pen- 
elope were very sociable, as well as 
their brothers William and Robert. 

14th. A pleasant day. Got the 
coffee & sugar all weighed and taken 
into the ship again, and about fifty 
casks of rice stowed away. Put some 



radishes on board the Rodman (who 
was to have sailed today) for Cathar- 
ine. Sarah had a tea party this aft- 
ernoon — Jos. & Sally — Aunt Sally — 
Her mother and Mary Ann. Had a 
pleasant time. 

15th. Made considerable progress 
in loading the ship. In the afternoon 
Henry and myself went over to the 
Navy yard. Went on board and all 
over the Washington and Ohio, 74 
and a new frigate on the stocks near- 
ly completed. I was very much grati- 
fied with our work — returned to my 
home to tea where were a Miss Hart- 
shorn, Eliz. & Penelope Minturn, and 
Sarah's sister Mary, also William and 
Robert Minturn. We had a very 
agreeable evening. 

16th. Not very pleasant, in the 
afternoon it rained, and we were 
obliged to break off work. Very 
much disappointed in not receiving 
any letters trom home.. Rob't Smith 
took tea with us at Henry's. 

17th. Very warm and pleasant. 
Spent most of the day on board the 
ship. Invited to take tea at Geo. 
Hussey's. Did not go till evening. 
Found them very pleasantly situated 
in Broome street — staid about an 
hour and returned home. 

18th. Sunday. Went to Pearl 
street meeting this morning to hear 
Edward Hicks from Pennsylvania 
preach. He held forth for about two 
hours in a very able manner. He 
used plain, strong language. The 
principal subject of his discourse was 
against traditional experience upon 
which he expatiated very largely and 
also had a good deal to say respect- 
ing the unchristian spirit that pre- 
vailed among many for condemning 
those who differed from them in 
some little points. He also depre- 
cated in a very strong manner the 



[38] 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



Bible & Missionary Societies. Went 
in the afternoon to Hestej: street 
meeting. Edward Hicks was there 
and he gave us another sermon of 
more than two hours. His principal 
topics were the injury done the 
world by hireling priests. He said 
he called all hireling priests whether 
they received pay or not, if they were 
not commissioned from God to 
preach. He also had a great deal 
to say a,gain respecting the injury 
that was resulting from tradition. 
Both meetings were fully attended. 
From what I could learn, I believe 
his sentiments were generally ap- 
proved, but among the elder part of 
the Society there were a number 
that disapproved his sentiments in 
some measure. The ship Leeds 
arrived this day in 23 days from 
Liverpool, and brings accounts that 
the French had actually entered 
Spain and that war had commenced. 

19th. Business appeared to have 
revived a little in consequence of the 
news received yesterday. Went on 
board the packet ship Leeds. Her 
cabin is fitted up In superb style, 
equal to any parlour I ever saw. 
Prince Marat, nephew to Napoleon, 
arrived this day from Hamburgh. He 
is not very preposaessing in his ap- 
pearance. His mustachios were not 
shaved, which gave him rather a 
savage look. He contemplates spend- 
ing some time in this country. He 
got permission to come to this coun- 
try by agreeing never to enter the 
Austrian dominions. Mary Minturn 
& M,. Ann Russell took tea with us. 
About ten o'clock had a very heavy 
shower of rain. 

20th. An excessive warm day. Did 
not get along much on board the ship. 

21st. Busy all the morning arrang- 
ing so that I could leave in the after- 



noon for home. Called to see Cousin 
Fanny «fe at Jos. Grinnell's. Henry in- 
troduced me to Mr. Winnerholm, a 
young man from Gothenburg going in 
the steam boat to Providence. Rec'd a 
note from Capt. Fish to dine with him 
in company with Prince Murat. In the 
afternoon left In the steam boat for 
Newporti — found Rob't Smith on board 
and Thos. Riddle — spent the evening 
very pleasantly. Found Mr. Winner- 
holm very talkative. He introduced me 
to Mr. Perkin, son of Thos. H. of Bos- 
ton. It was calm all night. Went to 
bed at 10 but was not able to get much 
sleep, the jarring of the boat was so 
great. 

22d. Several showers of rain from 
sunrise till 9 o'clock. Got up this 
morning at 4 o'clock. Found it much 
pleasanter on deck than in the cabin. 
There is upward of sixty passengers on 
board. A good deal amused with Mr. 
Geo. W. Sturgis, a supiercargo dandy. 
At 12 o'clock we got to New Port 
where I found Harry with the horse 
& gig waiting for me. Went and saw 
my sister Mary. Dined at Townsend's 
and at 2 Rob't and myself started in 
the gig, Thos. Riddle and Henry in 
a hack, and got home at 8 o'clock. 
Very much pleased once more to get 
back to my native village. In the even- 
ing the girls. Corn's «& Warren were at 
our house. 

23d. Moses left this morning in the 
Rodman for New York, also Tom 
Hathaway. The Brig Juno arrived this 
forenoon. Took tea at Nath's and had 
a very pleasant evening. 

24th. Warren dined with ua. 
Hardly got into tJie regular routine 
of business at the store. 

25th. Sunday. Corn's & the girls 
dined with, passed a very pleasant 
day — did not go to meeting. 

26th. Mr. Wennerholm of Gothen- 



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burg came in town this afternoon 
from Providence. 

27th. Spent most of the forenoon 
with Mr. Winnerholm, who dined 
with me, also Corn's, Warren and 
Susan. In the afternoon Mr. W. and 
myself took a ride round the river 
and returned to our house and spent 
the evening. 

28th. The Ship Martha — Capt. 
Reed — sailed this morning for the 
Brazil Banks. Our servant Henry 
left this day for Boston. Took tea 
at father's. 

29th. A fine rain. The Sloop Ann 
arrived at 8 a. m. Rec'd a letter 
from Moses, mentioning that Eclipse 
had best Sir Henry at the great race 
on Long Island for a bet of $20,000. 
Great rejoicings in New York at the 
successful termination of the race in 
favour of the northern horse,. Mr. 
Winnerholm spent the evening with 
us — he leaves tomorrow for Ply- 
mouth. 

30th. The Brig Wm. Thacher 
sailed this morning for Bremen with 
a cargo of whale oil. Paul Howland, 
mate. In the afternoon the Eliza 
Nicoll sailed for New York. 

31st., The ship Richmond — Capt. 
Covel — sailed early this morning for 
the Brazil Banks. A cold wind and 
a blustering day. The evening pleas- 
ant — took a walk with Wm. & Syl- 
via and Mary up to Father's farm. 
June. 

1st. Sunday. Took a ride with 
Cath. and Willy over to Padanaram,. 
Mary and Susan dined with us, had 
roast beef for dinner (a great rarity 
this season of the year). After din- 
found 'Neal and Warren. Took a 
walk with them back of Uncle Abra- 
ham's and returned to Nat's to drink 
a little wine. The Ship Victory — 
Capt. Adam»— arrived this afternoon 



from the Banks with 1500 bbls. oil, 
(70 of it sperm) and 2500 bone. 

2d. Thos. T. Churchell failed this 
day, but it is supposed he will pay 
all demands against him. Hkd the 
large blinds painted in the new room. 
Ch's W. Flemming arrived in town 
this evening. 

3d. Rec'd a letter from J. W.. 
Russell stating the Sophia sailed last 
Friday, 30th inst. — makes nearly £900 
freight. The Brig Dragon arrived 
this afternoon with only 150 bbls. 
whale and elephant oil. They sur- 
veyed nearly 300 miles of the coast 
of Patagonia, but could not find any 
elephants. 

4th. The Rodman got in this af- 
ternoon. Rec'd a letter from Moses. 
Very pleasant weather. 

5th. The warmest day we have 
had this season, the thermometer at 
1 o'clock at 80 degrees. Wm. T. and 
Warren dined with me. John How- 
land, Jr,., and Thos. Hathaway and 
sister returned from New York by the 
steamboat. This afternoon the ship 
Columbus — Brock — arrived from the 
Pacific Ocean, last from Valparaiso 
with 1800 bbls. sperm oil. Brought 
a large quantity of specie for per- 
sons in Boston and some for the own- 
ers of the Emerald of Fairhaven. 

Reports the following ships left on 
the coast of Japan, Mexico, Peru & 
Chili: 
Nov. Geo. & Susan (Up- 

ham) 1000 bbls. 

Phenix (Worth).. 50 " 
Swift (Pinkham) . 400 " 
Wm. Rotch (To- 

bey) 20 " 

Dec. Portia (Ray) 400 " 

Iris (Hathaway) . . 1400 " 
Abigail (Covell) . . 1700 " 
Florida (Price)... 400 " 
Charles (Coffin) . . 1300 " 



[40] 




HENRY GRINNELL 

Mr. Grinnell financed a number of 
Dr. Kane's Arctic expeditions. 
Grinnell Land was named for him. 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEAR 



AGO 



March, Maria (Sprague). 40 bbls. 

Mercury (Austin). 150 " 

Also arrived the ship Maria 
Theresa — Wilcox — from the Banks 
with 2100 bbls. whale oil. Coming 
into the river the Vineyard pilot ran 
her on a ledge of rocks to the S. W. 
of Black Rock — at nearly high tide. 
The sloop Emily went down this eve- 
ning to lighten her. 

6th. The ship Amazon — Eldridge 
— from the Brazil Banks with 1500 
bbls. whale oil arrived last night — 
the last ship that will come from 
the Banks this season. Got up to 
the wharf at sunset — when also the 
Maria Theresa came to anchor in the 
stream, having got off the rocks at 
high water without sustaining any 
damage of consequence. 

7th. The Eliza Nicol arrived this 
afternoon from N. York, having lost 
the head of her mast in a squall night 
before last in the Race. Rec'd a few 
lines from Moses mentioning the ar- 
rival of the Sch. Magnolia — Capt. 
Hitch — at N. York. 

8th. Sunday. A fine rain all day, 
but rather cold. A young man from 
near Poughkeepsie by the name of 
Hill Barton preached a long sermon 
in the morning. I was not there, 
but heard he riveted the attention 
of the whole meeting — he was an en- 
tire stranger — known to none in 
town. Andrew Robeson invited him 
to dine with him. In the afternoon 
I went to hear him — he preached 
about two hours in a very interesting 
manner. He informed us he had 
formerly belonged to the Society, but 
was not now, that he considered him- 
self a true Quaker, disclaimed the 
Discipline and all forms. His senti- 
ments were completely what is called 
New Light. He is about twenty-four 
years of age and has a fine counte- 



nance. Wrote Cousin Tom a long 
letter by mail — also to Moses. Henry 
returned from Boston & resumed his 
station. Dr. Read's son Wm. Alex- 
ander, died this day with the dysen- 
tery — aged 9 months. 

9th. A considerable talk today res- 
pecting young Barton who preached; 
him to a very superior young man. 
most that I heard speak of him think 

'Neal, Nat & Macy dined with us. 
Took tea at 'Neal's with the girls 
and in the evening went to the Meth- 
odist Chapel to hear young Barton, 
who had appointed a meeting there. 
The house was well filled. He gave 
us a very good sermon. A consider- 
able number of young friends were 
there, but none of the old ones. Syl- 
via on returning from meeting turned 
her ancle and sprained it. 

10th. Weather very cool. The ship 
Com's Rodgers — Smith — arrived from 
Amsterdam 40 days passage. Dr. 
Read's child buried this afternoon. 

11th. Ship Ann Alexander — Bow- 
en — sailed for the Brazil Banks, also 
Sloop Rodman for New York. Chas. 
W. Morgan went in her for Phila. 

12th. Attended meeting — received 
a long sermon from young Barton. 
When he had finished Debby Otis 
made a few remarks which coincided 
in sentiment with what Barton had 
advanced, but desired friends to be 
careful not to be blown about by every 
whiff of doctrine &c &c. After this 
young Barton made a prayer. Before 
the meeting closed Benj'n Rodman 
rose and said that his friend Hall 
Barton would hold a meeting at the 
North Baptist meeting house this eve- 
ning. This being preparative meet- 
ing day, they again brought forward 
a complaint against Ben. Rodman 
from the overseers without stating 
for what offence he was complained 



[43] 



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of, but they were not able to carry 
it thro' and the meeting ordered it 
back to the overseers to be remodeled. 
In answering the Queries, Job Otis 
said that he thought the one respect- 
ing unbecoming behaviour ought not 
to be answered clear, as they had 
witnessed that day the unbecoming 
behaviour of Ben Rodman, in inform- 
ing friends of the appointment of a 
meeting by one who was not a friend. 
No notice however was taken of Job's 
sage remark. Dined at Cornelius' on 
roast pig. Had company to tea at 
home — Jos. Ricketson & E. Thoraton 
with their wives. Lydia Thornton & 
Mary & Susan. Had a very pleasant 
evening. Mary & L. Thornton left to 
attend the meeting. I could not leave 
on account of my company. 

13th. The girls dined with us. Re- 
ceived a letter by Mail from Moses 
saying that he should be in Newport 
on Sunday. About 10 o'clock went 
down to Uncle Humphrey with War- 
ren — had a supper and a very clever 
time — received the pleasing intelli- 
gence that Mary R. Rotch has agreed 
to give her hand to Chas. W. Flem- 
ming. 

14th. The Sch'r Eliza Barke.- with 
125 bbls. sperm oil arrived. Corn's, 
& Susan, Father & Mary, Jos. How- 
land and myself left here in gigs at 2 
o'clock for Newport to escort Moses 
home — had a very pleasant ride and 
got there at 8 in the evening — put up 
at Townsend's — Hull Barton staid 
there also — Corn's & him had a long 
conversation together — he is a very 
pleasant & interesting companion. 

15th. Sunday. "Went to meeting. 
Had a long, dull and uninteresting 
Herman from Henry Hull, of whose 
Gospel ministry I did not form a very 
high opinion of — do not think him 
equal to his nephew Hull Barton. 



Moses got here at 4 o'clock this 
afternoon in the steamboat from New 
York. I was very glad to see him. 
Went to meeting again this afternoon, 
and had another sermon and prayer 
from H. Hull — as uninteresting as the 
morning's service — says too much of 
himself that has a tendency to disgust 
his hearers. Heard that Hull Barton 
walked out to Portsmouth meeting — 
he appeared in supplication; as soon 
as Moses Brown discovered whom it 
was, — He requested him to stop, but 
he paid no attention to him. Moses 
continued talking, requested friends to 
touch him. but no one felt confident 
enough to lay hands on him. After 
meeting he got up on an eminence in 
the yard and addressed about two 
thirds of the meeting, who stopped to 
hear him. His sentiments were gen- 
erally approved. 

16th. Our party went out to a 
place on the island called Purgatory 
— a pleasant ride — it is a chasm in a 
rock — the sides are perpendicular 
about 15 feet wide — the sea rushes in 
and gives it rather a wild appearance. 
Returned to town and left there for 
home at 11 — got to the Head of West- 
port at 3 where we dined and staid 
till 5 — found ourselves at 7 once more 
at home. Spent the evening at 
father's. 

17th. A warm day. Jos. Rotch 
went over to Newport this morning 
to see that Barton had fair play shewn 
him. 

18th. The ship Timoleon — Capt. 
Starbuck — sailed for the Banks. Sch'r 
Packer arrived at Falrhaven with 
160 bbla. sperm oil — oil has risen at 
Nantucket to 46 cents cash — it has 
been as low as 37 cents. 

19th. The ships Geo. & Martha — 
Chase — and the Pacific — Whitfield — 
sailed for the Brazil Banks. Dined 



(44] 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



at W. T. Russell's, the warmest day 
this season. The thermometer in my 
entry 85°. Friends returned from the 
Yearly meeting. They are going to 
apply to the Legislature ro get In- 
corporated. 

20th The Rodman from New York 
arrived this morning. W. R. lioich, 
Chas. Moi'gan & Sister came passen- 
gers. Moses received some cherries 
and sent them up to our house and 
in the evening had a party to partake 
of them. Took a ride after tea to get 
Clamcors — a very pleasant day. 

21ft. The ships Phoebe Ann and 
Good Return hauled into the stream. 
A FKasant day. 

?2(\ The Rodman left Ih^s morn- 
Ing .or New York — a fine wind. Corn's 
went in her. The ship Phoebe Ann — 
Capt. Rawson — sailed for the Brazil 
Eauks. At meeting this morning Hull 
Barton rose and quoted tha' portion 
of Scripture where Christ told tha 
people when asked what they should 
do \iriv.h a certain woman, and he tcld 
them that they that were without siii 
to Ccist the first stone at her &c — he 
then sat down, but soon rose again. 
but bffore he had said many words 
Coir'j- Rowland asked old friend 
Rotch if it was not best to stop him 
as he was not a member. The old 
man would not pay any attention to 
hiiu, and Uncle Casey kept silence — 
and Hull proceeded, but Asa Smith 
could not rest easy to hear one who 
was not a member say any thing in 
nieeting, and requested that "dis- 
honest man to take his seat and not 
disturb the meeting." Frank Taber 
also upbraided him, but he paid no 
attention to them and continued on in 
his discourse, and spoke to us in a 
very impressive manner. No further 
opposition was made. He bade us an 
affectionate farewell and left the 
meeting before it was closed. After 



he left, Ben'j Rodman spoke in a very 
able manner, and much to the pur- 
pose — respecting the persecuting 
spirit among us, and ended with the 
words of Christ on the cross: "Father, 
forgive them, for they know not what 
they do." 

Dined at bi'Other William's — learnt 
that Hull had an appointed meeting 
at Rochester, and to testify our appro- 
bation of him Catharine & myself 
with William and Sylvia, Rob't & 
Lydia Smith and Wm. P. and sister 
Betsey went over to attend his meet- 
ing, and were well pleased with his 
discourse. After meeting we called 
to see Micah Ruggles and his wife, 
and then returned home. Rob't & 
Lydia took tea with us. A very cool 
evening — had a fire to keep us com- 
fortable. 

23d. A considerable excitement 
among a good many in consequence 
of the unchristian treatment towards 
Hull Barton yesterday. He had an 
appointed meeting this evening at the 
Old Congregational meeting house. I 
attended it and was better pleased 
with him than at any time before. 
The meeting was well attended. Jos. 
Rotch and Ben'j Rodman sat in the 
pulpit with him. Green peas In the 
market for the first time this season. 

24th. A fine Rain last night. Wm. 
T. Dined with us. In the afternoon 
took a ride round the river. 

25th. Mr. Warren & Smith with 
the girls dined with us today. In the 
afternoon Moses & Susan, Cath. & 
myself took a ride to Cummings' to 
buy goods cheap. Took tea and spent 
the evening at father's. An associa- 
tion of ministers from different parts 
of the States belonging to the or- 
thodox (Holmes') church, met here 
today to discuss the state of religion, 
&c. 



[45] 



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26th. Monthly meeting day. At 
the close of the first meeting B. Rod- 
man informed them his friend Hull 
Barton would have a meeting this eve- 
ning at the North Baptist meeting 
house. Some of the old friends felt 
rather sour at this. They disowned 
the girls after some opposition, also 
Andrew Hathaway for marrying out 
of the Society. 

The Eliza Nicol arrived this after- 
noon fjTom New York. A son and 
daughter of Caleb Hathaway of 
Phila. came passengers in her. It 
rained in the evening and I did not 
go to hear Barton — understood he 
had a pretty fuU rmeeting, and 
preached very well to them. 

27th. Dined at a family party at 
fathers. S. L. Shober of Phila. took 
tea at father's with us. 

28th. Found this morning that 
during the night Henry had decamped 
with all his baggage thro' the win- 
dow in his room — have not been able 
to learn any tidings of him, but pre- 
sume he has gone to Hayti in the 
Sloop William which sailed during the 
night. 

The whole talk of the town is on 
the failure of Will'm & Gideon Allen 
— and Hussey & Allen, who have 
stopped payment this day. Engaged 
most of the day in reading Quentin 
Derwood. 

29th. Sunday. Ships Midas, Spoon- 
er, and Good Return — Terry — sailed 
for the Brazil Banks. The Boston 
brig Halcyon with 2100 bbls. whale 
oil sailed for Rotterdam. The Ann 
left this evening for New York. 
Uncle Gid. and daughters went in her 
on a tour to the westward. Capt. 
Smith dined with me. Hull Barton 
left town this afternoon with Mr. 
Warren for Plymouth on the way to 
Boston & Lynn — his exit will relieve 



the minds of many concerned friends. 
Sloop Emily sailed for Bilboa. 

30th. Had a spell of the sick head- 
ache. The brig Glide from Boston 
arrived this morning to take a cargo 
of oil from Fairhaven. 

July. 

1st. By the ai'rival at Nantucket 
of the Constitution & Dauphin, we 
receive the following accounts from 
the whalemen: 
Nov. 25 — Frances — Swain 1600 bbls. 

" Independence — Ham'd.. . . 1800 

Dec. Wm. Rotch — Tobey 200 

Dec. 5 Stanton — Burtch 600 

" 23 Alliance — Coffin None 

Jafci. 30 swift 600 

Feb. 13 Pindus 200 

2d. The Rodman arrived this 
forenoon. Mrs. Parry and her two 
daughters from Phila. came in her. 
Took tea at Corn's and in the evening 
went up to Nat's to see Mrs. Parry. 

3d. The ship Millwood — Burgess — 
sailed for the Brazil Banks. Mr. 
Warren returned from Plymouth — 
his brother, the doctor, came with 
him. Rec'd a letter via Nantucket 
from Capt. Glover of the Barclay 
dated at sea Lat. 33° N. Long. 1400 
W., Nov. 23, 182 , He says he is going 
to the coast of Japan once more, that 
he has 800 barrels. 

4th. A pleasant day — rather cool. 
Nothing done in the village towards 
celebrating Independence but our 
Fairhaven neighbours had a public 
dinner. This eve'n had a supper 
party of Chowder &c — Mr. Warren & 
his brother, Wm. T., Nat & Moses — 
had a pleasant time. 

5th. The supper I ate last evening 
did not agree with me very well, and 
I did not leave the house 'till after- 
noon. This evening the Ship Par- 
nasso — Capt. Clark — with 1200 bbls. 
sperm oil arrived from the Pacific 
Ocean and brings the unpleasant in- 
telligence of the death of Capt. Eber 



[46] 




^.%Vav>;"' ^ ;:% 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



Clark of our Bark Elizabeth, who 
sickened and died before they got 
round the Cape of Good Hope. This 
account the capt. of the Parnasso 
learnt from the ship Courier of New- 
port, who had spoken a vessel that 
was in company with the Elizabeth on 
the coast of New Holland, but at what 
time I cannot learn but hope on the 
arrival of the Courier to have fur- 
ther accounts who had put away with 
1900 barrels for home. The Parnasso 
also heai'd from the Wm. Rotch with 
500 barrels in January. 

6th. Very heavy showers of rain 
this forenoon. The Commodore 
Rodgers — Capt. Smith — sailed for the 
Brazil Banks. Devoted the day to 
reading Count Las. Casas' Journal. 

7th. Took tea at Nath'ls, then took 
a walk th.ro' the north part of the 
town. It is so much altered within 
a few years that I hardly knew it 
to be part of our town. 

8th. Very warm and lazy weather 
— business very dull . 

9th. The Ship Victory — Capt. 
Adams — sailed for the Brazil Banks. 
The Rodman also for New York. 
Thos. Rodman went in her on his 
way to Niagara. The Capt. of the 
Courier got here this afternoon and 
.says he nevej- heard of the Elizabeth 
or of Capt. Clark and that the in- 
formation we heard by the Parnasso 
is entirely incorrect unless he got the 
account from some other ship. Took 
tea at father's — Nat. Hathaway's fam- 
ily there. 

10th. The Brig Industry — Parker 
— from the coast of Guinea with 380 
bbls. sperm oil arrived last night. The 
Ann arrived this afternoon. Nat's 
family & some other of our ac- 
quaintance took tea with us, among 
them Wm. Swain. 

11th,. Nothing occurred during the 
day to note — sultry weather. 



12th. The Brig Nautilus sailed for 
New York. 

13th. The Dragon — Bates — sailed 
for the Brazil Banks. Ben'n Rodman 
took the high seat during the meet- 
ing and preached to them a little. 
Mary R. Rotch and Ch's W. Flemming 
were published today. The Herald — 
Neal — sailed for the Banks. 

14th. Spent most of the day at 
home reading Las Casas's Journal. In 
the evening went to Jas. Arnold's gar- 
den to eat strawberries. 

15th. A fine rain all day. Warren 
dined with us. 

16th. The Ann sailed for New 
York loaded with sperm oil in the 
natural state belonging to Judd — bo't 
here at 45 cts. p. gall. cash. In the 
evening went down to father's to eat 
Ice Cream. Nothing remarkable oc- 
curred this day saving old Isaac 
Howland's wife was put to bed with a 
daughter — great event for the old 
man. 

17th. The ship Amazon — Adams- — 
sailed for the Brazil Banks a-whaling. 
At noon brother Benjamin with his 
wife and blind child, arrived from 
Newport — came for the benefit of 
their healths. Preparative meeting 
day — nothing done with Ben. Rod- 
man. 

18th. Brother Ben,, left for home 
this morning. Devoted the day to 
bottling port wine, rec'd by the 
Parthian. I filled 300 bottles and 
stowed them in the wine cellar. 

19th. This morning a party con- 
sisting of Jos. & Thos. Rotch, B. 
Rodman. C. Morgan, Wm. Swain, M. 
Grinnell, Chas. Grinnell, Nat. Hath- 
away and myself went in the sloop 
Experiment — Capt. Taber — to the 
Islands, anchored under the large 
Weepecket island and commenced 
fishing. A party put off in the Boat 



[49] 



LIFE 



I N 



NEW 



BEDFORD 



to divide the chance. We did not get 
many fish, though more than we need- 
ed. I was so fortunate as to catch 
more than any one else, which was 
but twelve. We had a very good 
chowder, got under weigh for home 
about two o'clock — very little wind, 
and that ahead as well as the tide & 
we did not get to the wharf till 
Eleven. Part of the party left the 
sloop after we got this side the Light, 
in the whale boat, and got up an hour 
before we did. We had a very pleas- 
ant time, indce*? and I enjoyed my- 
self very much. 

20th. Have not felt well all day 
owing to yesterday's dissipation. The 
ship Columbus — Capt. Brock — sailed 
this morning for the Brazil Banks 
a-whaling. The Rodman arrived this 
evening from New York. 

21st. Rec'd accounts by the ar- 
rival of the Carrier into N. London 
from the Pacific Ocean that she spoke 
Feb'y 2 2d with 1050 barrels the 
Minerva, so that we may daily expect 
her. 

22d, The Experiment — Capt Taber 
— sailed this morn'g for New York. 
Thos. Hathaway went on in her. Took 
my gig to Hall's to have repaired. 

23d. Got my hay into the Barn of 
W. Rotch. 11/2 tons & W. T. Russell 
2 tons. 

24th. Monthly meeting day — a 
good deal of sparring. Geo. Hussey, 
wife and Eliza Bowne got in town 
from New York via steamboat. 

25th,. The Ann arrived this 
morn'g twenty-flve hours from N. 
York. Brother Corn's cousin Fanny 
Russell and her mother came in her. 
Corn's has come home very much 
pleased with the interior of the State 
of New York and talks strongly of 
purchasing a farm and settling on it. 
Began to rain in the afternoon and 



continued to all night pretty heavily. 
We had an invitation to a party at 
James Arnold's — got all ready expect- 
ing Corn's to send his gig for us, but 
he did not and we were obliged to 
stay at home. Capt. Smith oame in in 
the evening and we had a little bit 
of a supper to console for the loss 
of the party. 

26. The Brig Resolution — Capt. 
Dunbar — sailed for Bremen with a 
cargo of oil, and the Ship Maria 
Theresa — Hillman — sailed for the 
Banks a-whaling My niece Almy 
Barker came this afternoon from 
Newport to pay us a visit. 

27th. Sunday. BenJ'n Rodman 
gave us a sermon this morning. Moses 
& Susan dined with us. The Eliza 
Nicol arrived this afternoon from N. 
York. John Brewer came in her from 
Phila. 

28th. Took tea at Corn's and had 
a cherry and cucumber party. 

29th. Howard came to live with us 
this day at ten dollars p. month. Took 
a ride with Amy round the river — 
went to father's to tea. 

30th. This evening Cousin Fanny, 
Sally E. & Some others spent the 
evening with us — we had a small sup- 
per. 

31st. Put some Ising glass to a 
cask of Lisbon wine to settle it. John 
R. Mitchell came in town from Ply- 
mouth very much pleased to see my 
old companion — took tea at W. T. 
Russell's with cousin Fanny & some 
others. 

August 

1st. This afternoon Warren & my- 
self took a ride over to Tucker's to 
join J. R. Mitchell and some others 
at nine pins. In the eve'g we had 
cousin Fanny, her mother and a few 
others to tea. 

2d. John Thornton in town. J. 



[50] 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



Mitchell left for Nantucket. The Ex- 
periment arrived from New York. B. 
Rodman had an examination before 
the overseers at the committee room. 
He proved every thing he had assert- 
ed and they have concluded to let 
the matter rest. Last evening Chas. 
W. Flemming and Maa-y R. Rotch 
were married. J. Thornton took tea 
with us. Heard that they thrust Hull 
Barton out of the meeting house at 
Nantucket and would not sufCer him 
to preach. Uncle Elkanah & Rob't 
Smith got home. 

3d. Sunday — very rainy all the 
forenoon. Jos. Rotch went on to 
Nantucket and will assist H. Barton. 
John Thornton also went on. Will'm 
T. dined with us. The ship Europa 
— E. Dunbar — and the Brig. Frank- 
lin — J. Delano — both from Gothen- 
burg loaded with Iron arrived this 
afternoon. Went up to uncle Abra- 
ham's to see L. Smith. When we re- 
turned found Warren had been in and 
carried off the remains of our dinner. 
We immediately went down to uncle 
Humphrey's and had a merry time. 
The Ann sailed for New York this 
afternoon. 

4th. Took a ride with Amy to 
Padanaram. In the evening a severe 
thunderstorm. 

5th. Reshingled the gutter on the 
roof of the house and put up a vane 
on Geo. Howland's barn. After tea 
took a ride with Amy to the fort — 
very pleasant. 

6th. The ship Charles — Coffin — 
arrived last night from the Pacific 
Ocean full of sperm oil. An officer in 
the Patriot service came passenger in 
her. Bill Delano also came home in 
hej-. Joseph Rotch returned from 
Nantucket. Hull Barton came with 
him. 

7th. Brig Industry — Parker — sailed 



on a whaling voyage to the Cape de 
Verds. At meeting this morning Mr. 
Clough the Baptist minister preached 
to them some time. After him Hull 
Barton began to speak. Caleb Greene 
requested him to desist, but Hull said 
what he had to before he sat down. 
Ben Rodman, Mary Rotch and Phebe 
Johnson had something to say, so 
that they had quite a New Light time. 
In the afternoon Caleb Greene and 
Francis Taber had an interview with 
Clough to take him to do for speak- 
ing. John W. Davis, wife and mothej: 
arrived. 

8th. Had a party to dine consist- 
ing of Nat's family, cousin Fanny and 
some others. 

9th. The ship Parnasso — Covil — 
sailed this morning for the Banks a 
whaling. Went over to Russell's Mills 
with a party of gentlemen to roll nine 
pins. John Davis with us. Father 
bought the old meeting house at auc- 
tion for $275 and has offered the use 
to Hull Barton to hold meetings in. 
The Ann got in this evening. Hen'y 
Grinnell & wife, Miss Whitridge and 
Thos. Hathaway came passengers. 

In the evening went to the Method- 
ist Chapel to hear Hull Barton. 

10th. Sunday — attended meeting 
all day. Hull Barton preached both 
in the moxning and afternoon — no 
opposition was made to him. Dined 
at Corn's. Was at father's between 
meetings when I met Hull and Ben 
Rodman. In the evening at Wm. T. 
Russell's in company with H'y Grin- 
nell and wife. 

11th. Subscribed for a share in the 
old meeting horse, father having 
given up his right to it. Rainy day. 
Took tea at father's with H. Grinnell 
and lady, Mrs. Davis & others. 

12th. Employed in fitting a stone 
or en drain from the house. 



[51 [ 



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BEDFORD 



13th. Hull Barton left this morn- 
ing for New York in the Experiment. 
A pamphlet came out this mojrn'g 
against Hull, supposed to have been 
written by Job Otis. Had a party to 
dine with us for Henry Grinnell & 
wife and fourteen others in the eve- 
ning — had some others to tea and 
then a little bit of a dance. 

14th. Took tea with a party at 
brother Wm. T. — had a pleasant eve- 
ning. 

15th. Dined at Cornelius' — most 
sick all day with a cold and head 
ache. Wm. R. left for Princeton to 
wait on his wife home. 

16th. Unpleasant weather with 
some rain. Invited to Chas. Swain's 
to eat Lobster at 11 o'clock with 
H'y Grinnell and some others. In the 
evening at a ball at Thos. Rotch's. 
Mrsi. Rotcli played on the Piano and 
Mr. Flemming on the flute — enjoyed 
myself very much — got home about 
twelve o'clock. 

17th. Sunday. Henry Grinnell, 

Wm. Warren and Wm. T. dined with 
me today. 

18th. This morning a party con- 
sisting of Henry 8c Sarah, Corn's & 
Betsey & Moses Grinnell, Wm. T. & 
Sylvia. Cousins Fanny & Sally Rus- 
sell, Susan Davis, Wm. C. & Eliza and 
Hannah Nye, Lydia Smith, Mary and 
Susan Russell, John Smith, Chas. H. 
Warren, Catharine & myself, took a 
ride to Horse Neck Beach to spend 
the day. We had a fine ride on the 
Beach, where we found some men a 
seining. We bought some Bass and 
made a chowder, and dined on the 
Rocks from the provisions we car- 
ried with us, and the chowder. We 
returned tp Tucker's to tea and played 
nine pins — stayed there till sunset. 
Found the tire on one of my chair 
wheels broken — tied it up so that I 



got home without any further injury 
to the wheel. Catharine rode home 
in one of the carriages and I took 
Henry Grinnell with me. Just after 
they entered the new road, the car- 
riage broke down that Cath. was in, 
but they met with no accident and 
all got home safe and pretty well 
tired. Cousin Fanny, Mary & Susan, 
J. Smith, Warren and Corn's stop'd 
and spent the evening with us^ Capt. 
Smith was in his best spirits, and we 
had a merry evening. The day was 
very pleasant and we all enjoyed our- 
selves very much. 

19th. Forenoon rainy. Matthew 
Barker came off from Nantucket for 
the purpose of selecting him a place 
to erect a salt works. 

20th. Matthew & myself took a 
ride to view the salt works on the 
Acushnet, at Padanaram. and at the 
Cove, which occupied the whole of 
the day. Wm. T. Russell went to 
Newport today. John Coggeshall's 
daughter Emily died. 

21st. This morning at seven 
o'clock Corn's, Sam'l Leonard, Mat- 
thew and myself went over to West- 
port thro' Russells Mills and over 
Hicks Bridge, then up the River about 
a mile to a small farm of Seth Rus- 
sells, but found the water too fresh 
for salt works — returned to Tucker's 
to dine. After dinner we went down 
to his farm, where we staid some 
time. The situation did not suit Mat- 
thew,. We got home about sunset and 
I found our ship Minerva — Capt. 
Swain — had arrived from the Pacific 
Ocean full of sperm oil. She brought 
Ten thousand dollars in Specie for 
some persons in Boston. Wm. R. and 
his wife arrived from Princeton. Wm. 
T. returned from Newport. 

22d. M. Barker left for Newport. 
Engaged in discharging the ship. The 



[52] 




CORNELIUS GRINNELL (1) 
JAMES ARNOLD (2) 

From a cartoon owned by the Old 
Dartmouth Historical Society. Prob- 
ably more correct as to costume, than 
feature. 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



captains of two Nantucket ships ar- 
rived here on their way home, having 
cast away their ships on some un- 
known reefs on the coast of Japan. 
The ships were the Lion and the Two 
Brothers. The captains came passen- 
gers in a ship arrived in Boston yes- 
terday. 

23d. FinisJied discharging the Mi- 
nervo — ^very pleasant weather. 

24th. Sunday. This morning Cath- 
arine, the children & myself took a 
ride to Sconticut point — very good 
road and a pleasant ride. Moses, Su- 
san & Mr. Warren dined with us 
Philip Dunham gave a long New Light 
sermon. In the afternoon Corn's & 
Mary, Moses & Sue and ourselves took 
a ride round the river. In the eve- 
ning cousin Fanny & Sally, Wm. & 
Sylvia with the girls stopped in and 
we had a little supper. 

25th. Jeremiah Hubbard, a friends 
minister, here — also Mr. Webster and 
John Thornton. 

26th. Got the account of the Mi- 
nerva's cargo — she turned out 1123 
bbls. about 1-3 Head. In the after- 
noon friend Hubbard had an appoint- 
ed meeting and gave us a long and 
windy sermon. I do not form a very 
high opinion of his spiritual preach- 
ing. Henry & Sarah Grinnell returned 
from Boston. 

27th. 

28th. Very pleasant weather. At a 
large party at uncle Elkanah's. The 
ship Charles — Capt. Joy — ^sailed for 
the Banks a whaling, also the brig 
Protection to the Cape de Verds and 
the Brig Elizabeth, — Blackmer — for 
the Cape de Verds a trading voyage. 
Amy left us to day for Nantucket with 
John & Lydia Thornton. Henry, Sarah, 
cousin Fanny, the girls & Moses dined 
with us. Monthly meeting day. Corn's 



handed the clerk his resignation to his 
right of membership, and made a few 
observations & left the meeting. At 
brother William T., at a corn pudding 
party. 

29th. This morning Dr. Stebblns 
(who is Innoculating the children in 
town who have not been) Innoculated 
William & Edward. The Rodman left 
this afternoon for New York. Took 
tea at James Arnold's. 

30th. The Ann arrived about noon. 
Aunt Sally and cousin J. L. Russell 
came in her. L'd Stockton & lady 
arrived this evening to Wm. R's, also 
I. W. Davis and his cousin Dr. Nilea. 

3l3t. Dined at father's — had a pot 
pie party at our house in the evening. 
The Brig Franklin — Jos. Delano — 
sailed for the north of Europe with 
a cargo of whale oil «& 100 bbls. sperm 
strained oil & 100 boxes sperm'l Can- 
dles. 

September. 

1st. Took tea at Wm. Nye's with a 
larg» party. 

2(1. Dined at Corn's with a party 
for I. W. Davis. 

3(1. Left this morning with a party 
for Gayhead. After we got out in the 
Bay the wind was so far a head we 
had to give up the idea of going to 
Gayhead, and ran down to Kettle 
Cove, and made a chowder, then went 
a shore and walk'd across the Island 
to Tarpaulin Cove, and staid some 
time there, then returned home. We 
were an hour & twenty minutes from 
Kettle cove to the wharf. We had the 
sloop Ann. The party consisted of 
J. W. Davis, Henry & Moses Grinnell, 
W. C. Nye, E. Tp.llman, Rich'd Wil- 
liams, Capt. Randall & myself — got 
home about 8 o'clock — found Cath. 
gone to a party at Jos. Rotch's. 

4th. Dined at father's with a 
party and in the evening took tea at 



155] 



LIFE 



I N 



X E W 



BEDFORD 



aunt Perry's. Rec'd a letter from H. 
I. Merk & Co. Hamburgh, mentioning 
the arrival of the Sophia in 32 days 
from N. York. 

5th. Henry and Sarah Grinnell left 
this morning for New York in the 
Experiment. 

6th. The ship Abigail — CovIU — ar- 
rived from the Pacific Ocean with 2200 
barrels Sperm oil. Mr. & Mrs. Davis, 
Cousin Fanny, the girls, Warren and 
Moses dined with us today. 

7th. Rainy day. Dined at Wm. T. 
with a gentlemen party. J. W. Davis, 
W. C. Nye, Warren & R. Smith. Spent 
the evening at father's. 

8th. John Whitridge in town from 
Baltimore. J. Coggeshall, Jr. sold his 
part of the Minerva's cargo to Sam'l 
Judd for 48 cents p. gallon. John 
Davis returned home. 

9th. The Rodman arrived from 
New York, Thos. Hazard, Jr. here 
from New York. Cousin Fanny & 
Sally with Corn's & Mary at our house 
in the eve'g. 

10th. Nurse Mary left this morn- 
ing for a Newport on a visit. Cousin 
Jos. Russell dined with me. 

11th. Employed Scipio in setting 
out strawberry vines & raspberry 
bushes in the north lot. Phebe John- 
son and Eliza Rotch took the high 
seat at meeting this morning. 

12th. Cousin tanny and her 
mother left this forenoon in the Rod- 
man for New York, with a fine wind 

13th. The Brig Minerva — Capt. 
Tucker — arrived this morning from 
Marseilles with a cargo of Red wines. 

14th. Sunday. This morning at 
meeting Phebe Johnson and Eliza 
Rotch again took the high seat. Pret- 
ty soon Debby Otis made some ob- 
servations, alluding to them. Phelie 
followed her and spoke very well. 
Ben. Rodman joined with Phebe and 



Susan Howland backed Debby. The 
Brig Clitus — Capt. Almy — ^with a car- 
go of iron, arrived this morning from 
Stockholm. 

15th. The Eliza Nicol sailed for 
Phila. with a cargo of sperm oil. 

16th, Cousin Joe Russell dined 
with me. The Experiment arrived 
from N. Y. The Brig Osprey — Capt. 
Nye — from Amsterdam. In the eve- 
ning Mr. Warren, Thos. Hedge and 
Capt Smith at our house — gave them 
a cut of cold beef. 

17th. The Ann sailed this morn- 
ing for N. York. Anna Parry ana 
her two daughters left in her. Moses 
has concluded to go Supercargo of 
the brig Minerva to South America 
and up the Mediterranean Sh. 

18th. Busily employed during the 
day in posting James Arnold's books. 
Wm. & Lydia Swain spent the eve- 
ning with us. 

19th. Warren dined with me. The 
Rodman arrived this afternoon 21 
hours from N. York. 

20th. In the evening at father's 
making memorandums for articles for 
Moses to get for the Girls on his voy- 
age. 

21st. This morning a fine wind for 
the Brig, but some of the sailors be- 
ing out of the way, the Brig did not 
leave till 2 o'clock. Corn's went out 
in the vessel and left them at 4 
o'clock off the Sow & Pigs with a 
fine breeze. It was pretty hard for 
Moses to leave home for so long a 
time, but he mastered his feelings 
pretty well, considering all circum- 
stances. For the first time In my 
life a tear moistened my eye on part- 
ing with a friend. For nearly five 
years he had been my companion in 
the counting room and endeared him- 
self to me so much that I can truly 
say I felt for him all a brother's love. 



[56] 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



He goes from here to Pernambuco, 
from thence up the Mediterranean to 
Trieste and will be absent from eight 
to ten months. John Whittridge and 
Cousin Jos. Russell dined with me. 
At meeting this morning Benj'n Rod- 
man and Eliza Rotch took the head 
of the Galleries (or high seat). The 
latter made some observations on her 
having that duty to perform. 

22d. Every thing in the counting 
room put pie in mind of Moses, the 
loss of whose good company I al- 
ready begin to feel. In the evening 
Mary & Susan, Corn's & Betsey with 
Warren spent the evening with us. 
We had a fire for the first time this 
season, which was very comfortable. 

23d. Weather unpleasant an.l 
cold. Warren dined with us. 

24th. A cold N. E. storm. The 
Experiment sailed this morning with 
a full cargo of oil & candles. 

25th. This evening the girls witji 
Warren and Smith spent the evening 
with us — had a pleasant evening, but 
would have been much more so could 
we have had our good Moses' com- 
pany. Heard of the death of Thomas 
Rotch of Kendal, Ohio. Monthly 
meeting day. The old lights tried 
hard to get Corn's out of meeting 
without accepting his resignation, but 
were opposed by W. Rotch, Jr., Sam'l 
Rodman & others, and they put it 
off for another month. 

26th. The Rodman sailed this 
morn'g. Mrs. Davis dined with us, 
with Mrs. Smith, Mary & Warren. In 
the evening had an invitation from 
Lem. Williams to attend their meet- 
ing to hear a lecture from Mr. Dew- 
ey, which we attended. 

27th. The Sophia went into Tar- 
paulin Cove this forenoon from St. 
Ubes with a cargo of salt. We sent 
P. Mosher to her to pilot her to New 



York. The boat that took him to her 
had not returned at sunset. 

28th. Sunday. This morning at 
meeting had divers much preaching 
from seven different persons, among 
the number Eiiza Rotch and Phebe 
Johnson, who both took the high seat 
when they came into meeting. 

Warren dined with us. After din- 
ner Catharine, the children and my- 
self took a ride to the head of the 
river. 

The Ann arrived last night. Thos. 
Swain and Abm. Grinnell came pas- 
sengers. Rec'd a letter from Capt. 
Crocker & a new suit of clothes which 
he purchased for me in Liverpool. 
Mosher's boat had not returned from 
the cove this evening. 

The Sophia was not in the Cove 
this morn'g. 

29th. The Brig Beneset — Capt. 
Gardner — arrived from St. Ubes. R. 
R. Plummer got here at noon. He 
left the ship at the cove. He is very 
well. They had 33 days passage from 
St. Ubes and have on board about 
7000 bushels of salt. In the evening 
quite rainy. Warren 'Neal, 'Nat. Capt. 
Smith & Dr. Whitridge spent the eve- 
ning at our house. 

30th. Williams' birthday — two 
years old. Mary Harris returned 
from Newport. This morning I start- 
ed with Joseph Rotch in my gig to 
take him on to Newport on his way 
to New York with his family. We 
had not got but ten miles from to 
town before the tire of one of my 
wheels came entirely off and we were 
obliged to stop and get the gig out 
of the road, and I walked back half 
a mile to a Blacksmith's shop who 
let us have an old waggon, and prom- 
ised to put the tire on so that I 
might have the gig on my return. We 
had not proceeded far before we lost 



[57] 



LIFE 



I N 



NEW 



BEDFORD 



one of linch pins, and we came very 
near coming to the ground, but dis- 
covered it just in time. Got to tlie 
Bridge at 2 o'clock where we dined, 
and were in hopes to have obtained 
a better carriage to convey us to New 
port, but were not able to get one, 
so we proceeded on in the crazy old 
vehicle — got to town without sustain- 
ing any other damage except break- 
ing down the seat. Joseph and fam- 
ily went to Mrs. Dupee's and I to 
brother James' who was at home, 
expecting to leave in a few days for 
New Orleans. 

October. 

1st. Left Newport this morning at 
nine o'clock. The steamboat left for 
New York at sunrise. J. Rotch came 
near being left, as it was not known 
that she had altered her hour of start- 
ing. Got along quite uncomfortably 
in the old wagon. Being alone I got 
a sound jolting and was well pleased 
to get Into the gig again. Got home 
at 2 o'clock. The Experiment arrived 
this afternoon. Rec'd a letter from 
Henry. Took tea at father's; Nat and 
Anna. Mrs. Tom Rotch and some oth- 
ers there a-quilting. 

2d. Fine pleasant weather — the 
Indian summer. Seaver and Hedge 
here from Plymouth. 

3d. Mary and Susan dined with us. 
Nothing remarkable occurred this 
day. 

4th. Wrote Fish & Grinnell to en- 
deavor to procure some business for 
the Minerva. Sent Capt. Crocker a 
box of sperm candles as a present. A. 
meeting this evening of the merchants 
for the purpose of framing a petition 
to Congress to have a tax laid on Tal- 
low. 

5th. — Sunday. At meeting this 
morning as Eliza Rotch was passing 
up the aisle to take her seat on the 



high seat, Debby Otis moved her seat 
to block up the passage. Eliza 
stopped and stood in the aisle for 10 
or 15 minutes, then took another seat. 
She did not have anything to say dur- 
ing the meeting. Phebe Johnson camo 
in after Eliza, took the high seat by 
passing Debby. After sitting some 
time she arose and denounced a woe 
upon those who interposed the work 
of the Lord, and cut poor Debby up 
very handsomely. M. R. Fleming had 
a little to say, but spoke so low I did 
not hear her, but understood she 
commenced with "Touch not the 
Lord's annointed.'' Debby and Susan 
both had a deal to say. In the after- 
noon Phebe and Debby had a good 
deal of spatting. 

Cornelius and Susan, Nat. and An- 
na, started this afternoon for Wor- 
cester to attend the Cattle Show at 
that place, and return by the way of 
Boston to be at the Cattle Show at 
Brighton. Mary, Catherine and my- 
self spent the evening at Thos. 
Rotch's. Mr. Warren, Wm. R. and 
his wife were there. Minister Dewey 
was the general subject of conversa- 
tion. They all have an exalted opin- 
ion of his talents and the Society Is 
endeavoring to get him established 
over their Church. Rained very hard 
in the evening. 

6th. The Brig Ospray, Capt. Nye, 
and the Ann, Capt. Wood, sailed for 
New York with a fine wind. The 
Rodman arrived from New York] 
Capt. Cathcart came in her. 

7th. Had Capt. Cathcart, R. C. 
Plummer and Warren to dine witli 
me. Thos. Rotch's wife left this 
morning for Philadelphia via New- 
port 

8th. Took tea at Father's and 
spent the evening at Wm. R's. Miss 
Hedge in town from Plymouth. 



[58] 




From a portrait owiien u.v i^awrum-f Grinnell. 

CORNELIUS GRINNELL, JR. 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



9th. The Brig Wm. Thatcher ar- 
rived this morning from Bremen via 
Turk's Island, where she intended to 
have stopped and taken in a cargo ui 
salt, but having a head wind for three 
days Capt. Howland concluded to 
come home and take a freeh start. 

10th. Great commotion in town 
occasioned by a number of suspicious 
looking sailors about. In the after- 
noon they were taken up, being seven 
in all. Their captain was a young 
fellow about three and twenty, had 
been pretty well cut all day. He said 
he was the prize master put on board 
a Spanish Brig captured by a Co- 
lumbian privateer (in which ser- 
vice he belonged), that they w^ere 
bound to Laguira that off Porto Rico 
they fell in with a vessel bound to 
Saco (Maine) and his sails being very 
bad he made a bargain with this Saco 
vessel to take in his cargo and men 
and desert his prize, and when they 
got into the Vineyard Sound, he con- 
cluded that he could get to New York 
easier than by going to Saco. They 
there left the vessel and came over 
here in a boat. They all told the same 
story, but it was the opinion of the 
mate, as well as most everyone else, 
that the prize master had sold his 
cargo to the Saco vessel and meant 
to keep the proceeds himself. He 
appeared to have plenty of monej*. 
He said his name was Mosher, son of 
the President of one of the Baltimore 
Banks. C. H. Warren was his law- 
yer, to whom ha gave a Doubloon. In 
the evening he left town for Newport 
to take the steamboat for New York. 
The collector has written to Saco to 
have the vessel stopped. 

11th. Very busy all day attending 
to Thos. Rotch's business. In the aft- 
ernoon there was a town meeting (ad- 
journed frona the 4th inst.) respecting 
the petition to Congress, and a com- 



mittee was appointed to procure sub- 
scribers. 

12th. — Sunday. The Experiment 
and the Brig Annawan sailed for New 
York, Aunt Bethia in the former ana 
Edward Russell in the latter. The 
Brig Hope arrived 83 days from 
Gothenburg with a cargo of Iron. At 
meeting Eliza Rotch and Phebe John- 
son on the High seat. The latter had 
considerable to say. The Congrega- 
tionalists have concluded to establish 
Mr. Dewey over their church and 
have the house enlarged. Warren 
left town for the state of Maine. Bet- 
sey and Mary dined with us. 

13th. The Ann arrived from New 
York; John R. Mitchell came in her. 
In the evening we had quite a tempest. 
Most sick all day. 

14th. My birthday — twenty -six 

years old. Took tea at Father's. Cor- 
nelius and Susan returned this after- 
noon from Boston, much pleased with 
the Cattle Show at Worcester. Some 
jarring among a part of the company, 
that rendered their jaunt not so pleas- 
ant as it might have been. 

15th. Dined at Cornelius with 
Mary and Susan, William and Sylvia 
and L. Smith. We had a grand dinner 
of stall fed wild pigeons roasted and 
a partridge pie. Had a real pleasant 
time. 

16th. Rainy afternoon. Put up a 
barrel of apples to send Henry Grin- 
nell. Preparative meeting day. The 
old lights succeeded in getting in 
W. C. Taber as clerk, though not 
without some opposition. Cornelius 
quite sick with the cholic. 

17th. Heard from the Experiment 
in New London. She arrived there 
the evening of the 13th. Just as she 
let go her anchor she was struck with 
lightning. Shivered her topmasts and 
mast. Cut away her lanyards on one 



[61 J 



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side and passed off from the vessel 
by the chain cable which waa made 
fast to the mast. All the persons on 
deck were knocked down but no one 
was injured. 

18th. Mrs. George Brayton was de- 
livered of two fine girls at noon this 
day. Capt. Smith returned from Bos- 
ton and brought me Butler's Hudi- 
brass. Mary, Susan and Lydia Smith 
took tea with us. 

19th. Sunday. Eliza Rotch and 
Pheibe Johnson still continue their 
station on the High seat. The latter 
had considerable to say. Mr. Smith 
and sister Susan dined with us. We 
drank our good Moses' health in a 
Bumper. He has been gone four 
weeks this day. Took tea and spent 
the evening at Cornelius'. Jos. Rotch 
returned from New York, Miss Stock- 
ton with him. Wm. T. received a 
letter from Henry mentioning that 
Moses wa-s spoken five days out to the 
Southward of Newfoundland bank — a 
good run thus far. 

20th. The Brig Parthian Bourne 
arrived from Stockholm with a cargo 
of iron. In the afternoon Wm. and 
Sylvia and Catherine and myself took 
a ride to Cummings a-shopping. 

21th. Agreed to let Elisha Handy 
have the Wm. Thatcher at the halves 
to go to the Southward and run to the 
West Indies. 

2 2d. Dined at Father's on stall 
fed wild pigeons. The Ship Europa 
and Brig Juno sailed this morning for 
the southward. 

23d. Monthly meeting day. A com- 
mittee was appointed to draw up a 
complaint to send to New York against 
Phebe Johnson, and another to Eng- 
land against Eliza Ritch! ! ! ! Put on 
board the Ann a barrel of apples and 
a half barrel of cranberries for Henry 
Grinnell and a half barrel of cran- 



berries for Cousin Fanny Russell. The 
monthly meeting decided to accept 
Cornelius' resignation, but not without 
some opposition. 

24th. Joseph Rotch purchased of 
John Coggeshall, Jr., his half the ship 
Minerva for $2000 to be paid in 
strained oil to the amount of $850 at 
40% cts. a gallon, the remainder of 
the amount of our note vs. John 
turned over to Joseph, which he la to 
pay us for when convenient. Took 
tea at Father's Chas. Whalen there 
from Saratoga Springs. 

25th. The Ann sailed this morning 
for New York. Received a letter 
from Cousin Thos. Russell at Phila- 
delphia, wishing me to endeavour to 
raise him some money to set himself 
up in business in Tennessee. 

26th. Sunday. A short sermon from 
Eliza Rotch in which she related the 
treatTnent which Ben Rodman received 
last fifth day at Lynn meeting. While 
he was speaking some of the head 
Devils laid hold of him and dragged 
him out of the house. About thirty 
persons left the meeting in disgust. 
He had said nothing that wasi in the 
least way exceptionable, but that spirit 
of persecution which they possess in 
such an eminent degree would not 
suffer him to bear testimony among 
them. Mary and Susan dined and 
spent the remainder of the day with 
us. In the evening Cornelius, D. 
Whitridge, Mr. T. and Cousin Abey 
gave us their company. 

27th. Rainy day. Burnt out the 
chimneys at the house. 

28th. Another unpleasant day. Cor- 
nelius, Mr. Smith and Mary at our 
house in the evening. Had a little bit 
of a supper. 

29th. Left home this morning for 
Taunton. Turned in by Jlreh Swifts' 
and went by Rounseville's furnace. 



[62] 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



through the Beech Waod country to 
W. B. Canedy. Got to Taunton at one 
o'clock. Called on C. Richmond and 
Otis for the purpose of purchasing 
some cotton goods for the Minerva. 
Mr. Otis accompanied me and a Mr. 
Chevers from Philadelphia through 
several of their cotton and iron fac- 
tories, and to their new building be- 
ing erected for printing calicoes. Spent 
the afternoon very agreeably. Stayed 
at Atwood's. 

30th. Left Taunton this, morning 
at ten. It was cold and very unpleas- 
ant. Got hom at 2 o'clock. W. R. 
Rotch'a wife presented him this morn- 
ing with a girl, their second child. 
The Experiment arrived this morning. 
Benjamin Rodman this morning read 
a few pages In meeting from Wm. 
Penn's works. He was ordered to sit 
down by uncle Casey. Cornelius, Wm. 
T., Dr. Whitridge, Capt. Smith and 
Mary were at our house in the eve- 
ning. Had a cold supper. The cap- 
tain was in one of his best trims and 
we had a very pleasant evening. 

31st. Weather still unpleasant. 
Coppered one side the Minerva. Went 
to meeting in the evening at the "In- 
dependent Tabernacle" to hear Dr. 
Stebbins, a preacher of the New Jeru- 
salem church. His doctrines rather 
too deep for my comprehension. E. 
Thornton, Jr.'s wife added another to 
their stock of children this morning — 
a girl. 

November. 

1st. The weather still very un- 
pleasant. Not able to do much with 
the ship. Spent the evening at 
Father's. 

2d. Sunday. A meeting at the In- 
dependent Tabernacle today of Uni- 
versalists. Did not attend. Wrote a 
long letter to Cousin Tom in answer 
to his of the 21st of last month. Of- 



fered to loan him three hundred and 
fifty dollars, and gave him an invita- 
tion to come and spend the winter 
with us, if he does not find anything 
to do this winter in Philadelphia. In 
the evening Jos. Rotch, Cornelius and 
Capt. Smith spent the evening with 
us, and had a very s,ociable time and 
a little supper. They stayed till past 
12 o'clock. Jos. Rotch wrote today to 
New York ordering the Sophia here 
to send her a-whaling, if there was no 
immediate prospect of business for 
her there. 

3d. Finished coppering the Min- 
erva. The weather now very pleasant. 
Had radishes for tea from the seed 
that grew this year. They were very 
good. This evening I ate the apple 
which grew on my English Royal 
dwarf received from France this 
spring. It was in bloom when set out. 
The color red and white and very fine 
flavour. 

4th. The Brig Planter arrived with 
150 bbls. sperm and 3 50 ds. Humpback 
The Ann arrived in the afternoon. 
Aunt Bethiah and Wm. Howland (Pe- 
leg's son) came in her. Catherine's 
carpet and some other things from 
oil. Spent the evening at Nat's. Had 
a grand supper of broiled eels. 

5th. Joseph Rotch dined with me. 
Cousin Fanny's also came. Took tea 
at Father's. 

6th. Sent to Worcester to purchase 
a cow. Took tea and spent the even- 
ing at Cornelius' with the girls. Rain- 
ed in the evening. 

7th. Dined at Joseph Rotch's with 
Capt. Smith and R. C. Plummer, Mary 
and Susan at our house to tea. A 
rainy day. Mary R. Fleming returned 
from Boston. 

8th. The Experiment sailed for 
New York. Heard of the surrender of 
Cadiz to the French. Charley Warren 
returned from Maine. He, Capt. Smith 



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and Cornelius spent the evening with 
us. 

9th. Sunday. The ship Young 
Phenix. Capt. Jos. Dunbar, arrived 
this morning in the short passage of 
32 days froni Gothenburg with 350 
tons of iron. An agent of Barclay's 
house came passenger in her. Mr. 
Dewey held his meeting at the Inde- 
pendent Tabernacle, which he will 
continue to do while they are enlarg- 
ing his meeting house. I went all day 
to hear him, and was much pleased 
with his sermons. Sister Sue Warren 
and Capt. Smith dined with us. 

10th. Rainy. Did not do much to 
the ship. 

11th. James Arnold in town from 
Boston. Busy in getting the Wm. 
Thatcher ready for New York. 

12th. House cleaning at home. 
Dined at Father's. Wrote Moses a 
long letter to send to New York to 
be forwarded him at Gibraltar. 

13th. Nothing. 

14th. The Minerva Smyth, Capt. 
McKenzie, with 1800 bbls. sperm oil 
arrived from the Pacific ocean. Brings 
no news. 

15th. In the evening at Father's, 
the girls had a party of young ladies. 
Had quite a merry time. 

16th. Sunday. The Wm. Thatcher 
having been ready a number of days 
waiting for a wind to go to New York, 
sailed this morning. Capt. Mosher 
went on in her to bring the Sophia 
here to fit a whaling. 

W^ent to hear Mr. Dewey preach. He 
gave U3 a very Interesting extemporan- 
eous discourse. Wm. Thomas and 
Lucy Whitridge, Wm. Howland and 
sister Susan dined with us. In the 
afternoon went to the Quaker meet- 
ing. Had no preaching. In the morn- 
ing meeting Phebe Johnson took the 
high seat as usual and stood up nearly 



all meeting time. She and Eliza Rotch 
both had considerable to say. 

17th. Very cold with a consider- 
erable fall of snow. In the evening 
went to Uncle Humphrey's with Nat 
and Anna. Had a supper of souse and 
sausages. 

18th. Heard of the Parnassus get- 
ting 150 bbls. sperm oil and shipped it 
home by the Brig Nautilus. Spent the 
evening at Wm. Swain's. 

19th. The Experiment arrived 
from New York. Received a stove 
for the store. Edward Russell came 
passenger. The ship Enterprise from 
Havre arrived this evening. Stopped 
here to get some officers and stores 
and then to proceed to the Bank^ 
a-whaling. Had an alarm of fire in 
the evening. An old house next south 
of Peter Barney's took fire, but was 
extinguished without doing any ma- 
terial injury. Nat. and Anna, the 
girls, Sally E., Jos. Rotch and Capt. 
Smith spent the evening with us. Had 
a small supper. William James died 
very suddenly this afternoon. 

20th. Thanksgiving Day. Dined at 
Nat. Hathaway's on a roast leg of 
venisoned mutton. In the evening 
went to the grand Oratorio. The So- 
phia got here from New York. 

21st. A very pleasant day. A good 
deal of business doing on the wharves, 
everything wore a lively appearance. 
The New England Gazette — which 
last week while Mr. Warren was ab- 
sent changed its politics in favor of 
Calhoun — this day came out again in 
favor of Adams. 

2 2d. Rainy morning. In the aft- 
ernoon nearly completed taking into 
the Minerva. The "Select Meeting" 
has denounced Mary Rotch and in- 
tends entering a complaint against 
her at the monthly meeting. Bought 
a quarter cask (24 gals.) Madeira 



[64] 




THE CHANCELLOR LIVINGSTONE 
An Early Steamboat Described in the Diary. 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



wine of Capt. Lumbard and put it ta 
settle this day. Heard of the fail- 
ure of the Macy'a at Nantucket. 

23d. — Sunday. Mr. Warren re- 
turned from Plymouth last evening 
and brought me three Brant. He and 
N. Hathaway dined with us. They 
were very fine. Did not go to meet- 
ing all day but stayed at home mak- 
ing out invoice of the Minerva's car- 
go. Philip Dunham read in meeting 
a part of the Discipline respecting 
liberty of conscience, which gave 
much umbrage to the old school. 

24th. Got everything on board the 
Minerva ready for sea. 

25th. The Minerva sailed this 
morning but returned again, the wind 
not being fair after getting into the 
Bay. A very stormy night. Killed 
one of my pigs. 

26th. The Minerva succeeded in 
getting to sea this morning. Nearly 
calm all day. Evening very foggy. 
Capt. Smith and Cornelius dined witn 
us on spare rib. Parthian sailed for 
Philadelphia. 

27th. Monthly meeting day. Great 
excitement among the good friends of 
the Society In consequence of the 
Select meetings entering a complaint 
to the monthly meeting against Mary 
Rotch and Elizabeth Rodman, and 
wishing to expel them from the Se- 
lect meeting "for rising to the vocal 
prayer of one who was not a mem- 
ber of the Society and attending her 
meetings." Although ten or twelve 
opposed them, still they were deter- 
mined to carry their points, but by 
some mistake the men's meeting was 
broken up before the women were 
ready to send it in for their concur- 
rence, and therefore they were de 
feated in their plans this month. 

28th. Dined at N. Hathaway 's. 
The Ship Florida, Capt. Price, arrived 



from the Pacific Ocean with 1800 
bbls. sperm and 60 bbls. whale oil. 
Spent the evening at Nat's. Had a 
supper and a good time. J. Rotch, 
Smith, Warren etc. were there. Brig 
Sarah, Abm. Grinnell, sailed for New 
York. 

29th. Took tea at Father's. In the 
evening J. Rotch, Warren and Capt. 
Smith were there. We played Baga- 
telle. Returned home about ten. They 
accompanied us. We had a little 
supper and a real good time. Warren 
and Smith were full of mirth an.i 
spirits and they kept us in a roar till 
one, when they departed. 

30th. Went to the Quaker meet- 
ing this morning. Russell Davis gave 
us a sermon, replete with his usual 
sense and good language. In the aft- 
ernoon Phebe Johnson and Debby 
Otis had some sparring and as usual 
the latter got the worst of it. 

December. 

1st. Received a cow from Worces- 
ter. She is to calve in March or April. 
A very pleasant day indeed. This 
evening at 8 o'clock Sister Sylvia 
brought into the world a boy, much 
to the satisfaction of the concern, 

2d. A pleasant day. Warren and 
Capt. Smith spent the evening with 
us, 

3d. Matthew Barker came from 
Nantucket to attend the quarterly 
meeting. Stayed at our house. Wil- 
liam Howland dined with us. 

4th. Quarterly meeting day. A 
good deal of preaching in the first 
meeting. Eliza Rotch and Phebe 
Johnson took the head of the High 
seat. Both had something to say. 
Have not learnt of anything of im- 
portance transpiring in the business 
meeting. Father, William, Cornelius 
and the girls dined with us. About 
sunset a very severe storm commenced 



[67] 



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which lasted till midnight. Rained 
very heavily indeed. The girla stayed 
all night with us. Jos. Rotch had a 
supper party this evening. My having 
company prevented my going. Under- 
stood they had a very moderate time. 
Solomon Hltchman, a laboring man, 
found dead in the street after the 
storm. 

5th. Mr. Barker went to Westport 
to look at a farm. Went with Catha- 
rine and the family to see the "Grand 
Caravan of Living Animals" consist- 
ing of three lions, a tiger, a panther 
and divers many other beasts of the 
forest with a wilderness of monkeys. 

6th. Devoted the day to piling up 
wood at home and overseeing Howard 
saw. Found the old adage true that 
the eyes of the master are worth more 
than his hands. 

7th. Sunday. The Ship Independ- 
ence Hammond arrived this morning 
from the Paclflc ocean with 2000 bbls. 
sperm oil. Went to the Quaker meet- 
ing in the morning. Had divers much 
preaching from Phebe, Eliza Rotch 
and others. Lydia Smith dined with 
us. In the afternoon went to hear Mr. 
Dewey. L. Smith, L. Greene, Mary and 
Susan with Warren took tea with us 
and spent the evening. Had a little 
bit of a supper and a very clever time. 

8th. Spent the day at home attend- 
ing to domestic concerns. 

9th. Joslah Wood and son stopped 
payment this day, but will probably 
get under way soon. Received a let- 
ter from Capt. Lumbard of the Min- 
erva. He had 70 hours passage to the 
Cape of Virginia. He had purchased 
1100 barrels of flour at Richmond for 
$6 70 — 100 per barrel. 

10th. The first snow storm this 
winter. Not much fell and it cleared 
away at noon. Jos. Rotch left for 
Newport to meet his wife. Phebe 
Johnson accompanied him on her way 



to New York, which will be a matter 
of much rejoicing to the old school. 
Matthew Barker returned from West- 
port. 

11th. Mr. Barker returned home 
this morning. Read "Reglnal Dalton," 
a novel by Lockhart, Scott's son-in- 
law, a very interesting work. J. Rotch 
returned from Newport with his wife. 
The Amr. arrived from New York. 
Received a letter from cousin Tom. 
He had got a situation in a counting 
room there with a salary of $600 a 
year. Rec'd a letter also from Henry 
Grinnell with some tapioca. Went 
down to Father's in the evening and 
had a supper. Cornelius and Capt. 
Smith were there and came up home 
with us where we found Warren, re- 
turned today from Taunton. The Capt. 
had passed off a grand quiz upon us. 
He made us believe Warren had got 
Into a quarrel there with the editor 
of the Free Press in consequence of 
something he had written in the Ga- 
zette. He told it to us In such a man- 
ner that we all believed him. We had 
a merry time. They stayed till twelve. 

12th. The Ship Frances, Capt. 
Swain, arrived from the Pacigc ocean 
with 1600 bbls. sperm and 300 bbls. 
whale oil. Brings no news. Business 
very brisk on the wharves which really 
looks pleasant, although the weather 
is unpleasant. Mary and Susan dined 
with us. 

13th. Warren dined with us. Took 
tea and spent the evening at Corne- 
lius'. Rode home in the sleigh. 

14th. Sunday. The Pomona sailed 
this morning for Norfolk for a load of 
corn. Dined at Cornelius' with the 
girls. The Brig President arrived 
from a whaling voyage with 300 bbls. 
sperm oil. Did not go to meeting all 
day. 

15th. Snow and rain all day. Very 
disagreeable weather. Cornelius dined 



[68} 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



with us, Warren and Smith came in 
the evening. They talk of taking the 
Gazette to manage on their own ac- 
count, which I hope they will do. 

16th. This has been quite an im- 
portant day, people arriving to attend 
the ordination of Mr. Dewey tomor- 
row, but it has been very stormy 
through the day — raining and snow- 
ing. 

16th. Warren and William T. dined 
with me. In the evening attended Mr. 
Holland's second Oratorio. Was con- 
siderably amused, but more fatigued. 
The audience was not so large as his 
brst. He had an organ from Bostjn 
which added much to the effect. We 
did not get away till after ten. When 
we got home we were much rejoiced 
to find letters from Moses. Immedi- 
ately ran down to Father's before 
opening mine to carry the pleasing 
news. He was at Pernambuco but 
would sail in a few days for a better 
market if to be found. He was well, 
but his prospects of making a good 
vojage rather small. Mr. Warren 
stayed with us tonight to make room 
for some of his friends at Uncle 
Humphrey's who had come to attend 
the ordination. Cousin Ab'm returned 
from New York by the way of the 
steamboat. 

17th. A fine day. Attended the 
ordination of Mr. Downey. The house 
was completely filled and the services 
were very interesting and impressive. 
Great liberality of sentiment was ad- 
vanced; no particular creed was re- 
quired of Mr. Dewey, but he was left 
to teach his congregation after the 
dictates of his own conscience. I was 
very much pleased with the services, 
and have concluded to take a pew 
with Mr. Smith, believing that the 
moral lectures and instruction which 
I shall receive from Mr. Dewey will 



be of more advantage to me than to 
attend the Friend's meeting, the pro- 
ceedings of which have been of late so 
counter to my ideas that I feel per- 
fectly satisfied in leaving them for a 
time, trusting that the time will ar- 
rive when it will be a pleasure to me 
to return. The girls, Cornelius, Mr. T. 
and Capt. Smith dined with us. In 
the evening we went to meeting to 
hear Mr. May, a classmate of Mr. 
Warren's, and was well pleased with 
him. He, with Warren, came to our 
house after meeting and we had some 
oysters. Smith, Mr. T., Cornelius and 
the girls were also with us. We found 
Mr. May a very pleasant and agree- 
able man. 

18th. Judge Davis and Mr. Good- 
ing called to see us this morning. Not 
very smart today. 

19th. A very rainy day. Thia 
morning went with Capt. Smith and 
selected a pew No. — in Mr. Dewey's 
meeting house, and hired it for a year. 
Warren and Capt. Smith dined with 
us. In the afternoon I wrote a letter 
to Cousin Tom Russell, advising him 
to come here and embrace the offer 
of the owners of the Beneret to go 
out in her as supercago. By the Brig 
Rubicon, Capt. Leech from Batavia, 
we learn that "about the latter part 
of Nov. the Elizabeth Clark of New 
Bedford was spoken in the straits of 
Timor with 200 bbls. of oil bound to 
the coast of Japan." This is pleas- 
ing intelligence, being the first ac- 
counts we have had from Capt. Clark 
since his leaving Madeira. 

20th. Informed Capt. Clark's wife 
of the news from lier husband. In the 
evening went down to father's and 
had a little bit of supper. J. Arnold 
arrived from Boston. 

21st. Sunday. The ships Sophia, 
Capt. Cathcart, and Enterprise, Capt. 



[69 1 



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Gardner, sailed for the Brazil Banks. 
Attended Mr. Dewey's meeting all day 
and was much pleased with his ser- 
mons. Dined at brother, Wm. T. 
Warren took tea with us. 

2 2d. Wrote to Moses, and put It 
on boarl the Ann directed to Henry 
to forward at Gibraltar. 

23d. Very rainy indeed — my cellar 
with 10 inches of water standing in it. 
Warren, Capt. Smith and Nath'l Hath- 
away dined with us on a venisoned 
leg of mutton — very fine, 

24th. The great fall of rain last 
night seems to be the general sub- 
ject of conversation. More rain has 
fallen for the past 36 hours than was 
ev&r known in the same space of time. 
Employed all day writing for Jas. 
Arnold in J. Rotch's counting room. 
The quantity of rain that fell in the 
last 24 hours was 4 7/8 inches on a 
level by S. Rodman, Jr. 

25th. Monthly meeting day. Great 
exertions were made by the old lights 
to concur with the women meeting in 
turning Elizabeth Rodman and Mary 
Rotch out of the Select Meeting, but 
tht opposition was so great they weie 
under the necessity of postponing it 
to next month. We had a real month- 
ly meeting dinner. Father, Cornelius, 
Wm. and the girls with Mother and 
Betsey all dined with us. Cousin Tom 
Russell arrived from New York i.o 
go out in the Beneret. He spent part 
of the evening with us. We had a 
email supper. 

£6th. Cousin Tom and Susan spent 
the evening with us. 

27th. Busy all day getting small 
stores for Cousin Tom, who dined with 
us. This forenoon the Wilmington 
and Liverpool packet, Capt. Brigfe's, 
f.'om the coast of Japan arrived with 
2600 bbls. sperm oil. Took tea at 
b ather's. 



2?th. Sunday. Went to meeting 
this morning. Mr. Kendal from Ply- 
mcuth preached. Cousin Tom dind 
with us. Did not have any tea. Cal- 
culating on having 3. snug supper of 
oysters with Cousin Tom, but so many 
chaps came in during the evening 
that we were obliged to give it up, not 
having enough to supply them all. 

i f'th. A very pleasant day. Cousin 
Tom and the girls took tea with us. 
In the evening we had a small supper. 

30th. Spent the evening at Nat's 
with cousin Tom and Capt. Smith. 
We had a clam supper and stayed 
tiii past eleven. Miss Sophia had her 
grand party this evening. 

31st. The weather uncommonly 
niild and pleasant for the season, but 
the walking exceeding bad. Cousin 
Tom, Warren and Capt. Smith spent 
tne evening with us. Cousin Tom la 
now all ready for a cruise in the Paci- 
fic, and only waiting for a wind. 
So ends this year. 

January, 1824. 

1st. The Ann sailed this morning 
for New York having been detained 
by the wind since the 22d ult. My let- 
ter to Moses has gone in her. Cousin 
Tom sailed this morning in the Ben- 
eret, Capt. Covin, for the Pacific ocean 
on a trading voyage, in the capacity 
of supercargo. Wind N. E. and every 
appearance of the brig's having an 
unpleasant time off the coast. 

Dined at Father's with all the broth- 
ers and sisters. Wm. Warren and Wm. 
Grinnell and wife. After dinner the 
gentlemen went up to the westward of 
Wm. R's to a lot that he was clearing 
up, to examine the remains of Sam. 
Tripp who hung himself Sept. 23, 1798, 
and was buried up there. We found 
the coffin perfectly sound, but all the 
body had entirely decayed except the 
largest bones and the skull. 



[70] 







THE ANN ALEXANDER 



The Ann Alexander was commandered by Captain Loum Snow 
and was a source of news more than a century ago. Whenever 
Captain Snow went on a voyage, something interesting happened. 
George Howland. senior, was the agent of Captain Snow's vessel, 
which was named the "Ann Alexander" from an Irish friend who 
was traveling in this country. Following is an unembellished nar- 
rative of some of Captain Snow's experiences, as recorded in the 
archives of the Old Dartmouth Historical Society: 
Ship Ann Alexander of New Bedford, Georg?e Howland, agent; Loum 

Snow, master. 

1805. October 21. — Captain Snow, in command of ship Ann Al- 
exander, fell in off Cape Trafalgar with the English fleet a few days 
after the battle of Trafalgar between the English fleet and the 
fleets of France and Spain, which occurred October 21, 1805. 

The Ann Alexander was on a voyage from New York to Lteg- 
horn with a cargo of general merchandise consisting of flour, 
tobacco, salt, fish, lumber, etc. 

The English fleet was repairing damages which had occurred 
during the battle with the combined fleets. 

The Ann Alexander had a deck load of lumber wnich was the 
personal property of Captain Snow. An English officer boarded the 
Ann Alexander and informed Captain Snow that Lord Nelson had 
been shot through the shoulder and spine and had died on board 
the "Victory a few hours after the battle was over, and that Lord 
CoUingswood was the next senior officer in command. The English 
ships showed the effects of the battle, and their crews were at 
work repairing the damages. 

The English officer returned to the Victory and soon returned 
with a request from Lord CoUingswood that we would let him 
have some lumber, flour and apples. Captain Snow agreed and 
soon boats from the different ships came alongside and were fur- 
nished with these articles. 

The captain was paid for these goods in English gold by the 
fleet paymaster, who came on board and settled accounts. 

The Ann Alexander squared away for the Straits of Gibral- 
tar, and on the following day came up with the new '74-gun frigate 
United States. They lowered a boat and came alongside. We gave 
them the news and sent to the commander ten barrels of apples. 

1806. December 26 — On a voyage from St. Ives, England to 
Leghorn, France, in ship Ann Alexander, sailing from St. Ives, 
December 26, 1806, Captain Snow had the following experience: 

On January 8, 1807, they were captured by a Spanish privateer 
who took out the second mate and crew and manned her, and 
ordered her to proceed to Vigo, Spain. The next day the vessel 
was captured by an English man-of-war, who took out the crew 
and put aboard a prize crew of nine men and ordered the vessel 
to Gibraltar. 

On January 16. 1807, in the Gulf of Gibraltar, the vessel was 
again taken by a Spanish privateer and carried into Algiers. 

Previous to putting into Algiers Captain Snow enrolled the 
English prize crew as his crew, and on arrival at Algiers was 
allowed by the authorities to take possession of her and proceed 
on his voyage to Leghorn. 

On August 20, 1851, the Ann Alexander. Captain James Deblois, 
was attacked by an infuriated sperm whale which had been made 
fast to by one of the other boats, which had been stove. This 
whale stove the bow of the Ann Alexander, and she was sunk in 
the Pacific ocean, latitude 5-50 S., longitude 102-00 W. The cap- 
tain and crew took to their boats and were picked up by another 
whaler, the ship Nantucket. 



Although the ship Essex of Nantucket was sunk by a whale 
in 1819, the first report of the disaster to the Ann Alexander ex- 
cited much scepticism in the newspapers of the country, and a re- 
port of the interesting controversy which arose is printed else- 
where in this edition. Five months after the incident the whale 
that wrecked the Ann Alexander was captured by the Rebecca 
Simms of this port. Two of the Ann Alexander's harpoons were 
found in the whale, and pieces of the ship's timbers were found 
imbedded in the whale's head. The whale yielded about 75 barrels 
of oil. In March, 1902, the bark Kathleen was struck by a whale 
when a thousand miles off the coast of Brazil, and sunk. The men 
took to the whaleboats and were subsiequently picked up by a 
steamer. 



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2d. Brought the account books 
from the store and in future calculate 
to go down in the morning on change 
for an hour, then return to attend to 
writing, and go down again at 4 
o'clock. 

3d. Warren dined with us. Mary 
and Susan spent the evening with us. 
Sam W. Hussey got home in the sloop 
William from Hayti — got a piece of 
coral from him. 

4th. Sunday. Dined at Father's. 
Went to meeting all day. In the eve. 
called on Mr. Dewey and spent the 
remainder of the evening in R. Smith 
& Green's room. Weather continues 
very mild. Wind S. W. 

5th. A very pleasant day. Consid- 
erable sperm oil in the raw state sold 
at 41 cents per gallon. 

6th. Stormy day — warm, rain. Mr. 
Warren dined with us. Jas. Congdon 
married this evening to Lucy Randall. 

7th. The weather again pleasant, 
the wind to the north west, which has 
not been the case for a long time. 
Warren dined with us. Took tea and 
spent the evening at Cornelius'. He is 
full of the idea of leaving in May for 
the western part of New York. Wrote 
H'y Grinnel by mail, sending him a 
copy of the Manifest of the Beneret's 
cargo. 

8th. Susan dined with us. Rec'd a 
letter from Capt. Lombard dated 26 
Dec, then ready for sea. The papers 
state he sailed the 28th from Hampton 
Roads for South America. She stowed 
1614 bbls. Had a very severe sick 
headache. 

9th. Mary and Susan with Warren 
dined with us. Wrote to Boston for 
insurance on cargo of S. Minerva. A 
great stir has been made for some time 
past to endeavor to have the post- 
master turned out and Chas. Cog- 
geshall to be put In his stead. A peti- 
tion was sent to the postmaster gen- 



eral, but it ended in giving Asa a re- 
primand. He has now fixed up boxes 
for us. 

10th. Wind S. W. Rained all day. 
Stayed at home till late in the after- 
noon writing in the books and draw- 
ing off accounts. In the evening the 
wind got to the N. E. but continued 
to rain. 

11th. Sunday. Uncle Caleb Greene 
died this morning very suddenly. He 
had been unwell only two days. Hia 
death was occasioned by the reten- 
tion of his urine. Rained all day. 
Wind N. E Attended Mr. Dewey's 
meeting all day. Capt. Smith dined 
with us and he, Warren and Wm. T. 
took tea with us. 

12th. After tea Mary. Susan, Cath- 
arine and myself went to Nat's and ■ 
spent the evening — very pleasant. 

13th. Warren dined with us. After 
noon attended Uncle C. Greene's fu- 
neral. Cornelius and Betsey took 
with us. Father gave us an invita- 
tion to come down to eat some oys- 
ters with 'Neal, Betsey, Warren, Wm. 
T. and the girls. We had a grand 
time. Father brought out a bottle of 
the "June Wine" left by Cousin 
Fanny which put us all in high glee. 
'Neal had his new suit of vineyard 
cloth which he got pretty well torn,. 
After Catharine and Betsey went 
home we adjourned over to the Doc- 
tor's and drank a bottle of his "York 
wine". For my own part I was pretty 
well cut and the others not much 
better off. We did not get him till 
one. 

14th. Felt shocking bad all the 
morning from last night's frolic. The 
Experiment arrived from New York. 
Henry sent me a barrel of pippins 
and a bag of nuts. Rec'd the Pilot 
by the Experiment. Nat, Anna, the 
girls and Warren dined with ua. In 



[74] 



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the evening we read some in the Pilot 
and were much entertained. 

15th. Put up a new stove rec'd 
from New York, which works finely. 
Mary and Sally E. took tea and spent 
the evening with uai. The Pomona 
got in this morning from Norfolk 
with a load of corn. 

16th. Took the account books 
from the house to the counting room. 
Given up cho plan of writing at home. 
Mr. Warren dined with us. 

17th. A company of black theatri- 
cal actors arrievd in town. They in- 
tend performing a few nights. Much 
sport is anticipated. Went to a party 
this evening? at Francis Rotch's. 

18th. Sunday. Samuel Rodman, 
Jr's lady added to the stock of mortals 
this morning a son and a daughter. 
Warren dined with us. Capt. Smith 
and Warren spent the evening with 
us and we had a small supper. 

19th. A small flight of snow, not 
sufficient tor good sleighing. 

20th. Took tea at Father's with 
Nat and Anna. Rec'd accounts by 
the papers of Moses' arrival at Rio, 
the 20 th of November. After tea 
Warren and myself went to the Afri- 
can theatre at Cole's Tavern. The 
play was '"Pizarro." It was real sport 
for a time and quite a burlesque of 
the stage. One of the fair damsels 
gave Us two good songs. We left at 
nine and went back to Father's and 
had a little supper. 

21st. Rec'd letters from Moses at 
Rio. He was in good health and 
spirits and should sell cargo at that 
port. Catherine and myself spent the 
evening at Nathaniel's. We had an 
oyster supper. Some snow in the eve- 
ning, but cleared away very cold. 

2 2d. Very cold last night. The 
water was skimmed over to Palmer's 
Island. Monthly meeting day. The 



meeting held till past four o'clock. 
The case of Mary Rotch and E. Rod- 
man was again brought up before the 
meeting. A great deal was said. Job 
Otis told the clerk that he had the 
power to make the minute as he con- 
sidered the sense of the meeting with- 
out any regard to the opposition, 
which he immediately did and read 
this record of a minute that the 
weightier part of the meeting united 
with the women in disowning them 
from the office of Elders. This caused 
a general burst of indignation and 
the clerk had to erase what he had 
done. The meeting broke up without 
having succeeded in the accomplish- 
ment of the wishes of the old lights. 
About twenty-five persons spoke on 
each side. Thos. A. Greene, Sam. 
Rodman, Jr., William and Thos. 
Swain and many others of the younger 
members spoke on the subject. Cor- 
nelius dined with us. He read us a 
copy of a long letter he had sent that 
morning to D. Otis, giving her a grand 
blow-up for visiting his wife for speak- 
ing in meeting. The girls spent the 
evening with us. 

23d. Cornelius and the girls dined 
with us. In the evening Catharine had 
a large party of the Rothes, Rodmans 
and divers many others with Mr. and 
Mrs. Dewey. On the whole, a very 
clever time, particularly in the "after 
piece" when most of the company had 
left. Capt. Smith gave us a few the- 
atricals and we did not separate until 
one o'clock. 

24th. Pretty stupid all day. Weath- 
er fine. A "weather breeder", as 
grandmother woulc*. say. Capt. Galli- 
son arrived from Oyster Bay with a 
cargo of oysters. Nat. spent the eve- 
ning with us. 

25th.. Sunday. William quite un- 
well for the first time in his life. This 



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evening a very severe s^orm com- 
menced which lasted till morning. 
Wind blew vei-y hard. Capt. Smith 
dined with us. 

26th. John Wood, Jr. stopped pay- 
ment. Warren dined with us. 

27th. The Selectmen have forbid- 
den the African Corps performing any 
more of their theatricals, and have 
threatened them with a prosecution. 
Rec'd a letter from Henry Grinnell, 
also a back-gammon board to replace 
the one given Cousin Tom on his leav- 
ing. Nat and Anna and Wm. T. in 
in the evening. 

29th. A very mild and pleasant 
day. Took a ride towards the head of 
the river. 

29th. Warren dined with us. The 
Brig "Phebe" of Bristol put in in dis- 
tress. 

30th. Wm. T. Sylvia and the girls 
dined with us. In the evening Cor- 
nelius and Betsey, Warren and Nat 
were with us. 

31st. Dined at Nat's with Mr. 
Sampson from Boston. Took tea at 
Father's. Rec'd a letter from Moses 
at Bahia. Wrote H. Grinnell and J. 
Thornton. The weather still continues 
remarkably mild and pleasant. 

February. 

1st. Sunday. Dined at Wm. T'.s 
with Mr. Sampson, Cornolliis and 
Warren. The first exceeding cold 
day this winter. Susan c;ime to 
spend a few daj's with u^3. In rhe 
evening we had Warren, Capt. Smith, 
Cornelius and Wm. T. Nothing 
would do but they must have a sup- 
per and Warren and 'Neal went into 
the kitchen and bntif^dt out all the 
cold pieces in the house and we made 
quite a good repast They were all 
in a grrand, merry trim. Wm. U. and 
the Misses Stockton went to Boston. 



2d. The Experiment hauled down 
to the Smoking Rocks to avo'.d the 
ice. which is now hard in the river. 
She is loaded with oil for New York. 
Although the wind hauled tj the 
southward, yet we have had a very 
cold day. Had a very still time this 
evening. No one in save Cousin 
Bob. 

3d. Weather more moderate. War- 
ren and Mary with Susan dined with 
us. C and L very busy making cigar 
trays and card racks. Nat. and Anna 
took tea with us. In the evening 
Neal came in and Nat and myself 
went went with him home about nine 
to have some fried oysters. After we 
had got our fill, returned back to our 
house with a bowl full for the girls. 
Had a good set down and parted at 
12 o'clock. Some snow fell this eve- 
ning. 

4th. Wm. and Lydia Swain took 
tea with us. 

5th. The coldest day this winter — 
the thermometer this morning below 
zero. Warren dined with us. In the 
evening we went to Nat's to tea. The 
Experiment sailed for New York. 

6th. Warren dined with us. In 
the evening went to a large party 
at Jos. Rotch's. 

7th. This morning J. Rotch, War- 
ren, Capt. and Rob't Smith with my- 
self left home in the stage for Boston. 
The day was very mild and pleasant, 
and although the stage was very 
crowded we had a merry and good 
ride. Stopped at the Marlboro Ho- 
tel. In the evening called at J. W. 
Davis' and stayed a couple of hours. 

8th. Sunday. Went to Mr. Chan- 
ning's meeting expecting to hear him 
preach, but he did not. A Mr. Fur- 
nans took his place. After meeting 
spoke to Miss Arnold. Went to J. 
W. Davis' to dine. J. Rotch and my- 



I 76 ] 




From a portrait owned by the Swain Free School. 
WILLIAM W. SWAIN 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEAR 



AGO 



self went with Capt. Smith to take 
tea at his boarding house, where we 
had the pleasure of being introduced 
to Miss Hawthorne, the Captain's 
lady, and we were both much pleased 
with her appearance and manners. 
She is not a beauty, but has a very 
intelligent face and good form. 

9th. This morning went to the 
State House and stayed some time in 
the House of Representatives. Capt. 
Smith and myself went to the office 
of the Savings Bank and to a Book 
store and purchased Parker's Edition 
of the ''Waverly Novels" and Miss 
Edgeworth's works also. Dined at 
the Marlboro' with Warren, his 
brother Pelham, and Jos. Rotch. Af- 
ter dinner Jos. Rotch and myself 
took a hack, stopped at Miss Haw- 
thorne's for the Capt. and went to 
South Boston to see the Glass Works. 
The superintendent, Mr. Jones, was 
very polite to us. He took us through 
all the different works, which were 
in full operation of blowing, pressing, 
grinding and making window glass. 
I was much interested as it was the 
first time I had seen anything of the 
kind. In the evening J. Rotch. Rob't 
Smith and Capt. and his lady with 
myself attended the theatre to hear 
Tom and Jerry perform. I was very 
much amused. After the perform- 
ance we returned to the Marlboro' ac- 
companied by Mr. Braden, had a sup- 
per and a long talk with Baust, the 
actor who played Tom. 

10th. This morning called on Miss 
Arnold, at J. W. Davis', and at the 
Judges. Dined at the Marlboro'. In 
the afternoon "Logic" and myself 
sauntered about town, went to J. W. 
Davis' to tea. Miss Betsey Davis was 
there from Plymouth. After tea Bob 
and myself went to the Circus. Tom 
and Jerry at the Epsom Races was 



performed, but it was a flat concern 
as well as the after piece, Valentine 
and Orson, but the riding was su- 
perb. It was the first time I had 
been at the Circus, which made it very 
interesting. In the evening J. Rotch 
and Mr. Braden came in. The form- 
er left soon to attend a ball at Mr. 
Dexter's. Rob't had a letter from 
home stating the arrival of the Ros- 
coe full of sperm oil day before yes- 
terday, the 8th. 

11th. The day unpleasant and 
rainy. Spent an hour at the Athen- 
ian very pleasantly. Finished all my 
business this morning and ready to 
leave home on the morrow. Dined 
at J. W. Davis' with a large party, 
among them Warren and his Miss 
Hedge, Dr. Robbins and his Miss 
Hedge, Mr. Bliss and Miss B. Davis, 
Capt. Smith, Dr. Niles, &c., and we 
had a very handsome dinner. In the 
evening most of us went to the thea- 
tre — Shakespeare's Jubilee for the 
first time was performed. There was 
too much of it, though very interest- 
ing. It consisted of scenes from each 
of Shakespeare's plays. Did not get 
away till one o'clock. It rained and 
blew a gale. After partaking a sup- 
per at the Marlboro' with Warren. 
Rotch and others we retired at two 
o'clock pretty well tired. 

12th. Called this morning at 4 
o'clock and left Boston at five in the 
stage for home. Still raining. We had 
a merry party, all of our own ac- 
quaintance except two gentlemen. 
There was Rob't and Lydia, Mrs. Nye, 
Warren, J. Rotch, Geo. Brayton and 
myself. It was ten before we got to 
breakfast, a distance of 18 miles, the 
riding was so bad. The forward wheels 
sunk to their hubs in the mud nearly 
all the way. About eight it cleared 
away very pleasantly; the sun shone 



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out and it Gontinued to be pleasant all 
day. Before getting to Taunton the 
stage driver sent an express for a relay 
of horses, which met us within four 
miles of Taunton, when we all got in 
and rode. Most of us had been walk- 
ing for three miles. Got to Taunton 
at half past two, and at five got to 
Sampson's to dine. We had an ex- 
cellent dinner. All in good spirits and 
full of mirth, we enjoyed the dinner 
much. From Sampson's, home, the 
riding improved all the way. The 
moon shone vei'y bright and a merry 
time we had. The ladies, Brayton and 
Warren sung a variety of songs. Ar- 
rived at home at nine. Warren stopped 
with me. Found Mary and Sylvia there 
besides Susan. Cornelius, Nat and 
Wm. T. came in in the evening. Went 
to bed pretty well tired out. Warren 
brought us a dozen pewter plates in 
Boston and made Madam a present 
of them. Since I have been gone 
letters have been rceived from Moses 
stsiting that he could not sell his cargo 
at Rio, and was going to proceed 
either to Buenos Ayres or Montevideo. 

13th. Warren dined with us. The 
Experiment arrived from New York 
in 24 hours. Thos. Rotch and lady and 
Mr. Fleming came passengers. Corne- 
lius and Betsey spent the evening with 
us. 

14th. An unpleasant day . 

15th. Sunday. Rob't Smith and 
lady with Warren took tea with us. 
Talked over our Boston jaunt with 
much pleasure. 

16th. Capt. Smith returned from 
Boston; He, Warren, Neal and the 
doctor spent the evening with us. 

17th. Catherine, Susan making 
cigar trays, etc. Rec'd the Waverly 
Novels and other books that I bought 
in Boston. Had a letter from Moses 
at Rio — not in very good spirit's. 



18th. The great talk of the day is 
the blowing up of the character of 
Ogden, the famous author of Notus 
Mimini and Letters from the West. He 
turns out to be a great impostor and 
scoundrel, that his name is an as- 
sumed one. He has run off without 
bidding his creditors a good-bye. War- 
ren and Mary dined with us. 

19th. The Nantucket packet got 
off. Warren dined with us. 

Robert Swain sick, situation rather 
critical. 

20th. Capt. Smith dined with us. 
Went to Father's to tea. Nat and Anna 
and others were there. 

21st. Susan left us today, after 
spending three weeks with us. 

2 2d. Sunday. An exceeding stormy 
day. Went to the "Quaker meeting this 
forenoon, expecting to hear the Eng- 
lish minister, Stephenson, preach, but 
in the early part of the meeting Eliza 
Rotch made some remarks on the 
awfulness of speaking in one's own 
will, that the poor man held his peace 
the whole day, much to the disap- 
pointment of many. Nathan, Warren 
and Dr. Whitridge spent the evening 
and took tea with us. Susan fainted 
this morning, but much better in the 
evening. Neighbor George Howland's 
wife added a daughter to her flock 
this morning. 

23d. Nothing worth remarking oc- 
curred this day. 

24th. Warren and Mary dined 
with us. Very cold evening and night. 

25th. Dined at Cornelius' with the 
girls. Smith and Warren on calf's 
head soup. Had a good time. 

26th. Monthly meeting day. The 
English minister was here. I attended 
the meeting. He had a good deal to 
say, which occasioned some remarks 
from Micah and Benj. Rodman. The 
former observed that the doctrine he 
advanced to us was good, but the 



[ 80 ] 



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situation of this particular meeting 
was such that it was dead to them. 
The last meeting: finished at 3 o'clock. 
The case of E. Rotch and E. Rodman 
was again renewed, but postponed to 
next month, the orthodox not being 
sufficiently strong to push the case 
forward without the assistance of the 
quarterly meetings committee, who 
are to be here next month to lend 
their aid. Father and Cornelius dined 
with us. Put five pieces of beef to 
salt for drying, also salted a barrel of 
beef this evening. 

27th. The wind blew a gale all 
last night from the south east. This 
afternoon friend Stephenson had an 
appointed meeting. It was pretty well 
attended. He had a good deal to say 
and spoke very well, used good lan- 
guage, and seemed to lean a little in 
favor of the New Lights. 

28th. Nat and Anna took tea and 
spent the evening with us. Cornelius 
this day has given us the idea of mov- 
ing into the western part of the state 
of New York to live, and has con- 
cluded to go down to Potomska, much 
to the joy of us all. 

29th. The last day of winter, 
which has been a very uncommon one 
but very little snow, no sleighing, the 
weather very mild, but a larger quan- 
tity of rain has fallen than ever be- 
fore remembered in one season. No 
meeting at Mr. Dewey's church today, 
he being absent to Boston. Went to 
the Quaker meeting this morning. We 
had a long sermon from the English 
minister and a good prayer. Susan 
and Capt. Smith dined with us. 

The Brig Cornelia arrived from New 
York from a skinning voyage in the 
Pacific ocean, in which she was unsuc- 
cessful, and went a-freighting. A 
boat was upset alongside the Brig 
while coming up the river, with five 



young men in her, one of whom, a car- 
penter by name of Dillingham, was 
drowned. 

March. 
1st. The ship Young Phenix and 
the packet Experiment sailed for New 
York — very cold and windy. 

2d. Spent the day at the Candle 
Works, settling accounts with Wm. T. 
He dined with us today on mutton 
chops. In the evening we went down 
to Uncle Humphrey's to see Warren, 
who is laid up with a swelled face, 
owing to his defective teeth. 

3d. Capt. Smith and Susan dined 
with us. My Worcester cow had a calf 
this day at noon. Went to Father's to 
tea and spent the evening. Rec'd St. 
Ronan's Well. 

4th. Dined at Wm. T.'s with a 
party of old folks. At meeting today 
Debby Otis made a prayer, during 
which Ben. Rodman kept his seat and 
when she had finished he said the 
reason for his not rising was that he 
could not unite in prayer with one 
who did not possess the spirit of 
prayer. This was trying indeed to 
the friends of Debby and her good 
self, and in the afternoon the over- 
seers had him before them, but Ben 
made them consent to his having some 
one present, as they come with preju- 
diced minds against him. They were 
together the whole afternoon, and 
Ben told them some plain truths. If 
they possibly can, they will bring him 
before the meeting next month. 

5th. Took tea at Nathaniel's and 
spent the evening. Mr. Warren most 
well. Out for the first time this after- 
noon at Nat's. 

6th. A very pleasant day. Jos. How- 
land. Cornelius and Wm. T. dined 
with us. Took a ride after dinner with 
Catharine and Edward. Agreed to sell 
Chas. Grinnell from the Candle Works 



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13,000 spermi in casks @ 24c per 
cash, to be delivered the 28th day of 
June next. 

7th. Sunday. Mr. Dewey returned 
from Boston yesterday. Attended his 
meeting. Warren dined with us. Ben 
Rodman appeared at meeting, today 
with a blaclc double-breasted coat. 

8th. Spent the evening at Cousin 
Jos. Ricketson's at a tea party. 

9th. An alarm of fire this evening 
from Dillingham's Hatter's shop, but 
was soon put out, 

10th. Cornelius went down to his 
farm today and commenced digging 
the cellar for an addition to the house. 

11th. Answered a letter received 
.some time since from D. G. Fisk. A 
large tea party at Father's. Some 
dancing in the evening. We had a 
real merry time. In the afternoon 
'Neal and Nat were up to Tom Rotch's 
and they all got pretty well cut. Nat 
was not able to come to Father's. 
The Brig Elitus, Capt. Almy, arrived 
in at Tarpaulin Cove from Havre. 

12th. Had a saddle of mutton 
cooked which I had had in keeping 
for a month. It was very fine. 'Neal. 
Nat, Dock Russell and Capt. Smith 
dined with us. In the evening we 
went to a party at Uncle Elkaneh'g. 
Jas. Arnold came up from Boston. 

13th. Nat dined with us on the re- 
mains of the mutton. The Elitus got 
in. Sold my horse Robin to Father 
for $150. 

14th. Sunday. The Experiment 
from New York, received letters from 
Henry Grinnell. 

15th. A very pleasant day. 

16th. Commenced snowing early 
this morning and continued to snow 
during the day. More snow than at 
any one time this winter. Three- 
eights of the Brig Cornelia was sold 



at auction today for $1150, bought by 
S. Russell & Sons. 

17th. Continued to snow most of 
the day. The ship Florida, Capt. 
Price, sailed for Baltimore. Took a 
short ride round town with Father's 
girls. Sleighing bad. Jireh Perry's 
wife put to bed — got a daughter. 

18th. Preparation meeting. Benj. 
Rodman informed the meeting that 
he intended to enter a complaint 
against the overseers next month for 
detraction! Received letters from 
Moses at Buenos Ayres. To the first 
Jan. he had sold his cargo at a pretty 
good price. The girls and 'Neal were 
at our house when I brought the let- 
ters home. We were all much de- 
lighted. Jos. Rotch laid up with the 
Gout. Chas. Grinnell's son about 
two years old died with a lung fever. 

19th. This evening at a large party 
at Wm. R's we had some dancing and 
a merry time. Warren returned from 
Taunton. 

20th. Rainy. Father's French girl 
Virginia, left with them by Jere. 
Winslow, ran away. 

21st. Sunday. Attended Mr. Dew- 
ey's meeting all day. Called to see 
Jos. Rotch who is still confined to his 
room with the gout in his great toe. 
Warren dined with us. Borrowed of 
Father the letters of Paul and Amicus, 

22d. The Experiment left for New 
York. Tom Hathaway went in her on 
his way to Baltimore. Put % oz. Isin- 
glass to the Madeira wine bought of 
with which I have been very much 
interested. Two ships gone Into Tar- 
paulin Cove this afternoon. The 
knowing ones call them the Europa 
and the George and Susan. 
Capt. Lumbard. The ships that were 
in the Cove got in this evening. One 
was the Europa from Liverpool, the 
other the Richmond, Capt. Covell, 



[ 82 ] 




MRS. WILLIAM W. SWAIN 



From a photograph taken in old age in her garden. She was the beautiful 

Lydia Russell. 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



from Brazil banks with 2200 bbls. 
whale and 80 bbls. sperm oil. 

23d. By the Rambler arrived at 
the old town, we hear that the Alli- 
ance had left the coast of Japan with 
1450 bbls. (full) bound home, so that 
she may be expected any day. Re- 
ceived letters from Moses at Buenos 
Ayres to the 6th Jan'y. To sail next 
day for Rio. Warren and Nat gone 
to Taunton to attend a Democratic 
Caucus for Governor and Senators. 
May Tyson died this morning — left a 
child two days old — a daughter. 

24th. Catharine taken suddenly ill 
and confined to her bed. 

25th. Received from F. Rotch 
three French pear trees received from 
Paris this spring. Monthly meeting 
day. The old lights succeeded in car- 
rying their points, and the clerk en- 
tered on the books that they were 
united in disowning Mary Rotch and 
Elizabeth Rodman from their elder- 
ship, and sent the same to the Quar- 
terly meeting for their concurrence 
This is a high handed measure, and 
had the decided disapprobation of a 
large number of the members, and 
those too who were by far the most 
respectable in the Society. If the 
Quarterly meeting consents to these 
proceedings, it will most likely cause 
a separation in the Society. 
No. 4 Winter Good Christian 
No. 3 Summer Ditto 
No. 6 St. Germain. 

26th. Wm. and Sylvia and the girls 
took tea with us. 

27th. Weather very fine. Jos. 
Ricketson sick with a lung fever. 

28th. Sunday. Mary and Susan 
dined with us. Catharine came down 
to dine with us for the first time since 
she has been confined to her room. 
Some sharp shooting at the Quaker 
church this morning. 



29 th. Stormy day. Mr. Barker came 
off from Nantucket to attend the 
Quarterly meeting. 

30th. Weather very pleasant. The 
Rosetta arrived from New York. At- 
tended a caucus this evening on ac- 
count of the approaching election. 
Gave Cornelius my Worcester calf to 
raise. Heard of the Capt. of the Swift, 
and two of his men being killed. 

31st. Dined at Father's with Ellsha 
Hathaway, Mr. Barker and some 
others. Heard by the Ganges arrived 
at Holmes Hole that the Wm. Rotch 
with 1600 bbls. and Alliance with 1400 
bbls. were left at Wahoo in October. 
April. 
1st. The Experiment arrived from 
New York. Quarterly meeting day 
The weather was fine and the meeting 
large. A good deal of preaching. 
Priscilla Hunt had considerable to 
say — she is a New Light. 

Father, Cornelius, Wm. T., Cousin 
Abey and Mary dined with us. 

The last meeting held till past six 
o'clock, when they succeeded in giv- 
ing the finish to turning M. Rotch 
and E. Rodman out of their situa- 
tions as elders. P. Hunt had a good 
deal to say in the last meeting, which 
galled the old school not a little. 

Heard of Moses' arrival at Rio from 
Buenos Ayres. 

2d. M. Barker and other Nan- 
tucket friends left early this morn- 
ing. P. Hunt went with them, but 
severally were much grieved for fear 
that she might contaminate them. 
The ship Iris, Capt. G. Howland, 
sailed for New York. Heard of the 
ship Roscoe on .he 10th of Dec. off 
the Friendly Islands with 2100 bbls. 
sperm oil. 

In the evening went down to Cor- 
nelius' and had an oyster supper with 
Father and the girls. 



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3d. Politics are the order of the 
day. Great exertions are being mado 
by the Federalists to displace Gov. 
Eustis and the Democrats are using 
greater exertions to reelect him, 
which I most sincerely hope they will 
fail in. 

Received letters from Moses to the 
1st of Feb., stating he should sail for 
Trieste in 8 days with a cargo of 
sugar. 

4th. Sunday. This has been a day 
of great excitement among the Quak- 
ers. Mary Newell arrived in town 
last evening, on her way to Philadel- 
phia in the company of Andrew 
Robeson and others. It was soon 
known among the New Lights that 
she would be at meeting and there 
was a general attendance. The fore 
part of the meeting was taken up 
in short skirmishes, until Mr. Newell 
took the floor and preached for about 
three quarters of an hour very elo- 
quently, after she had taken her seat. 
Cornelius Rowland denounced her 
and her doctrine, said she had come 
among us to cause disorder, etc. and 
that she had established a separate 
meeting of her own where she lived 
Her husband rose and said this wa*- 
not correct. Jos. Rotch said that as 
there were many present who were 
not members of the Society, he would 
inform them that she had not been 
disowned by the Society as stated by 
C. Rowland, but by a faction. B. 
Rodman rose and said he was author- 
ized to state to the meeting that Mr. 
Newell would hold a meeting this 
afternoon at the Independent Meet- 
ing house. This was pretty nettling. 
The meeting then separated, but 
there was a deal of spatting before 
the house was cleared. Upon the 
whole, this was the highest time we 
have had. At 4 o'clock we assembled 
at the Tabernacle, which was soon 



crowded to excess. She gave us a 
good New Light sermon. The dav 
has been very pleasant. C. and my- 
self took a short ride before dinner. 
Cornelius, Betsey and the girls dined 
with us. In the evening, called with 
Wm. T. on Mr. Dewey. 

5th. Town meeting day. In the 
morning the town affairs were attend- 
ed to. Killy Eldredge was chosen 
Town Clerk. Treasurer and collector 
of taxes, Wm. Hathaway. Joseph 
Bourne and Ephraim Kempton, Se- 
lectmen. In the afternoon oflaoers 
for the State were voted for an the 
result was as follows: Samuel 
Lathrop 360 — ^Wm. Eustis 145 — for 
Gov. Richard Sullivan 355 — M. Mor- 
ton 150 for Lt. Gov. Thos. Rotch 391 
— Starkweather 363 — Brownell 371 — 
S. Hodges 144 — Mason 115 — Pratt 136 
— for Senators. The Democrats never 
made greater exertions than they 
have this year in this and the three 
neighboring towns — eveything that 
could be done was done and they had 
confidently expected a gain from last 
year, in which they were much dis- 
appointed for there was a federal 
gain in each of the towns. Rec'd a 
letter from Capt. Tobey at Wahoo 
dated Nov. 10 with 1500 bbls. to sail 
in a few days for a cruise. 

6th. Capt. Clark in the Bark Eliza- 
beth arrived this afternoon from the 
Indian Ocean with a full cargo of 
sperm oil. He has on board some 
Madeira wine taken in at Madeira 
going out, which he has had on board 
nearly two years — for account of 
ourselves and W. T. Russell. 

7th. Busily employed with the 
Elizabeth — the weather very fine. 

8th. W. R. Rotch and lady and 
the Misses Stockton left in the Ex- 
periment this morning for New York 
and Thos. A. Greene for Philadelphia 



[ 86 ] 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



to attend the yearly meeting:. Re- 
turned and sailed again next day. 
Francis Hathaway left in her on his 
way to Baltimore to go out supercar- 
go of the Florida to the Pacific Ocean 
on a trading voyage. Put four hams 
into pickle. Took tea at Nat. Hath- 
away's. 

9tn. At Cornelius' to tea. Busily 
employed discharging the Elizabeth. 

10th. The Ann Alexander arrived 
from the Brazil Banks with a fine 
cargo of whale oil. The Wm. That- 
cher from New York. At Mr. W. 
Swain's tea. Finished discharging the 
Elizabeth. 

11th. Sunday. A gentle rain dur- 
ing the day. Susan dined with us. The 
ship Charley arrived from the Brazil 
Banks with a full cargo of oil 100 of 
it, sperm. Wrote Francis Saunders 
Esq. of Nashville, Tenn., requesting 
him to send me the balance he owes 
Cousin Tom Russell. 

12th. Rainy day. 

13th. Got an account of the Eliza- 
beth's cargo. She turned out 1230 
bbls. Rec'd a letter from Cousin 
lom dated at St. Jago 29 Jan'y. Mary 
and Susan took tea with us. 

14th. Rec'd a letter from Capt. 
Lumbard of the Minerva at Pernam- 
buco, 6 Feb. Could not find a mar- 
ket there and was to proceed farther 
eouth next day. The ship Barclay, 
Capt. Glover, arrived from the coasu 
of California with only 1500 bbls,, 
having been three years this day per- 
forming the voyage. Set out four 
cherry trees received from Boston. 
Drank tea at Father's. 

15th. Priscilla Hunt at meeting to- 
day preached a pretty severe sermon 
to the Old Lights. The overseers 
presented a complaint against Ben- 
jamin Rodman. 



16th. Busily employed in dis- 
charging the Barclay. Sylvia Russell 
sick with a bilious fever. 

17th. Weather good, with some 
April showers. 

18th. Sunday. The ship Wilming- 
ton and Liverpool packet, Capt. 
Briggs, sailed for the south for a 
Ireight. The ship Charles, Capt. Joy, 
T^ath her cargo of oil, sailed for 
Bremen. She did not come to the 
wharf on arrival from the Banks, but 
discharged her sperm oil in the 
stream and bought of us the Barclay's 
whale oil to fill her up. The Europa 
attempted to get to sea for Lisbon 
with a cargo of the Richmond's oil, 
but grounded on the Bar. 

19thr The Experiment arrived. 
I'hos. Hathaway and Wm. Swain 
came in her. Nat and Anna spent 
the evening with us, 

20th. Thomas Swain left this 
morning for New York to take pas- 
sage In the Iris for London on a tour 
of pleasure. Finished discharging the 
Barclay at breakfast time. Dr. 
Read's daughter born this morning. 
Capt. Smith dined with us. Nat and 
Anna with the girls and Warren took 
tea with us. The Timoleon arrived 
in the evening from the Banks. The 
Brig Hope with a cargo of oil out of 
the Ann Alexander sailed for the 
north of Europe. 

21st. Got an account of the Bar- 
clay's cargo. She turned out 1470 
bbls. sperm and 73 bbls. whale oil. 
Settled the voyage at 38 cents for 
sperm and 22 cents for the whale. 
Took tea at Father's. 

22d. The Europa, Capt. Elisha 
Dunbar, sailed for Lisbon this morn- 
ing. Monthly meeting day. Benjamin 
Rodman was disowned. 

23d. The ship George and Susan, 
Upham, arrived from the coast of 



[ 87 ] 



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Japan with 2000 bbls. sperm and 200 
of whale oil. Heard of the loss of 
the Briif Nautilus in the straits of 
Gibraltar. 

24th. Very fine weather. Busy 
delivering the Barclay's cargo. 

25th. Sunday. This has been a 
day of unusual excitement by the ar- 
rival from eleven o'clock in the morn- 
ing till six in the evening of the fol- 
lowing ships, all full of oil: 

The Martha Reed with 1900 bbls. 

The Millwood Burgess with 1600 
bbls. 

The Good Return Ferry with 2400 
bbls. 

Making nearly 6000 barrels of 
whale oil — also the ship Stanton Bur- 
teh from the Pacific Ocean with 2000 
bbls. sperm oil and the Commodore 
Decatur Tilton, last from Mow'hee 
with 1400 bbls. sperm oil. 

26th. Received letter by the Stan- 
ton from Pernambuco mentioning 
that the Minerva had been heard 
from touching at Bahai and proceed- 
ing to Rio, where she arrived on the 
23d of February. 

27th. Received a letter from Moses 
at Rio the 19th of February, to sail 
next day for Trieste. Cornelius dined 
with us on roast beef. 

28th. Rainy day. Some consider- 
able stir in town from a black man, 
Mr. Lewey, who arrived yesterday 
Irom New York, being broken out 
with Vareoloid (species of the small 
pox). The selectmen have had him 
removed out of town. 

29th. W. R. Rotch's wife re- 
turned from New York via the steam- 
boat. 

30th,. Cornelius and family left this 
morning for his farm at Potomska. 
May. 

1st. The Brig Indian Chief arrived 
from a whaling voyage, last from Rio 



de Janeiro where she had sold her 
whale oil, about 500 bbls. which she 
has invested in sugar and coffee, and 
has also brought 120 bbls. sperm oil. 
Rec'd letters by her from Capt. Lum- 
bard to the 13th March. He was dis- 
charging his cargo at Rio, and likely 
to make rather a slim voyage. Took 
tea at Nat's. In the evening called 
with Nat at Nelson's to see Mr. War- 
ren and Mr. Seaver who has come with 
C. Warren from Taunton. 

2d. Sunday. The ship Amazon ar- 
rived from the Banks with 1900 bbls. 
whale oil — ship leaky. Susaji, War- 
ren and Smith spent the evening with 
us. 

3d. own meeting day. Thos. Rotch 
was chosen a representative to the 
General Court. The ship Triton ar- 
rived from the Pacific Ocean with 
only 1100 bbls .sperm oil about half 
full, been gone 33 months — had lost 
her captain. This is the worst whaling 
voyage been made since Peace. 

4th. Wm. T. and Warren dined 
with us. Took tea at Father's. 

5th. Bottled 114 bottles of Madeira 
wine bought of Capt. Lumbard. Wrote 
Henry Grinnell for bottles and corks. 
Susan at tea with us. 

6th. The ship Frances, Capt. Pad- 
dock, sailed early this morning for the 
Pacific Ocean on a whaling voyage. 
Took tea at Father's. In the evening 
the Experiment arrived from New 
York. Capt. Grinnell and Uncle Abra- 
ham came passengers. 

7th. The Brig Elizabeth Blackmer, 
44 days from the Cape De Verdes, ar- 
rived. Rec'd letter this evening from 
Capt. Lumbard at Rio, the 26th 
March, informing us that he had in- 
formation that flour was very high at 
Lima and Valparaiso owing to their 
crops of wheat being cut oft and that 



[ 88 ] 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



he would sail in 8 days for Lima. He 
had purchased some flour from a Bal- 
timore ship to load him. Flour at 
Lima, $50; Valparaiso, $35 per barrel. 

8th. Concluded to load the Eliza- 
beth with flour for South America. 
Finished mending her copper. Two 
new cases of the small pox made their 
appearance today. The inhabitants 
a little alarmed. 

9th. Sunday. The Alliance, Capt. 
Coffin, arrived last night full of sperm 
oil, last from Valparaiso, left 25 Jan- 
uary. Catharine and myself went 
down to Cornelius' farm and had some 
good fun fishing. Wm. Smith and 
Susan also went down. They stayed all 
night. The wind blew very strong 
and we had not very good success. 

10th. Got the Alliance to the wharf 
in the afternoon. Commenced taking 
in ballast in the Elizabeth. Took tea 
at Father's. 

11th. Warren and Capt. Smith 
dined with us on roast beef. Catharine 
spent the evening at Thos. Rotch's 
practicing herself in dancing for a ball 
that is to be given at the Town Hall. 
I was so tired that I did not join them, 
only to accompany her home at ten 
o'clock, but stayed till 12 — fatigued 
enough. 

12th. Nat and Anna took tea and 
spent the evening with us. 

13th. Mary and Susan dined with 
us. Had a tooth drawn this afternoon. 
Took some cold in my jaw from which 
I suffered most exceedingly all night. 

14th. The Brig Elitus, Capt. Almy. 
sailed for Amsterdam with a cargo ot 
whale oil. The ship Columbus, Brock, 
with 1800 bbls. whale oil arrived from 
the Brazil Banks. Joseph Rotch went 
to Boston as juryman to the District 
Court. Wm. Rotch, Sr's wife died 
very suddenly this afternoon without 



any complaint. Worn out by length 
of years. 

15th. Stayed at home all the after- 
noon — most beat out with pain in my 
teeth. 

16th. Sunday, Suffered most ter- 
ribly all last night with the head and 
tooth ache. Took considerable opium, 
which made me sick and confined me 
to my bed all day. 

17th. Took an account of the Alli- 
ance's cargo. She turned out 1428% 
bbls. sperm oil and of the best quality 
we have ever had. 

18th. Jos. Rotch and James Arnold 
came up from Boston. The ship Par- 
nassus arrived from the Brazil Banks 
full — 1500 whale, 120 sperm. At- 
tended the funeral of Elizabeth Rotch. 
Took tea at Father's. Cornelius and 
Betsey there from the farm. 

19th. The owners of the Stranton 
dissatisfied with the conduct of Capt. 
Burtch. Brought in an account against 
him of $4000. They agreed to leave 
it to a reference. The trial came on 
this day and took the whole day. The 
decision of the referees not yet made 
known. Mrs. Arnold and Elizabeth 
came from Boston. 

20th. Concluded to fit the Barclay 
for the Pacific Ocean and to give the 
charge of her to Capt. Coflfin who was 
in the Alliance. Some spatting in 
meeting today. Abram Barker was 
nominated as representative to the 
monthly meeting. Some objections 
were made and the conduct of Abrarn 
was pretty freely canvassed. His 
name was withdrawn. Took tea at 
Father's. 

21st. The Ship Pacific arrived 
from the Banks with 2200 bbls. whale 
oil, also the Herald with 1400 bbla. 
This evening with Catharine and Sus- 
an attended the Public Ball at the 



[89] 



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Town Hall, where about a hundred 
persons were collected together. We 
had as pleasant time as could be ex- 
pected. We left before one. Many 
stayed till daylight. The managers of 
the ball were Robert & John Smith, 
L. Washburn, T. G. Coffin and Thos. 
Rotch. The last nor any of the Rotch 
family attended, owing to the recent 
death of their grandmother. 

22d. Very busy all day getting the 
Elizabeth ready for sea. 

23d. — Sunday. Attended the 

Friends meeting. We had some ex- 
cellent preaching from Eliza Rotch. 
Mary Newell and Benjamin Rodman. 
In the afternoon Mr. Newe'.l also 
preached. Job Otis denounced her 
testimony as unsound, and that he 
had no unity with it. Ben Rodman 
replied to him. and gave him some 
pretty severe remarks. Mary dined 
with us. Mr. Swain and Nat, W^ar- 
ren and Susan went down to Cornel- 
ius' farm to spend the day. Weathe> 
very fine. 

24th. Finished a new sink drain at 
the house. 

25th. The Elizabeth, Capt. Clark, 
Bailed this morning for Baltimore, 
also the Brig Indian Chief. Nye, for 
Antwerp with a cargo of whale oil. 

2 6th. The ship Swift arrived from 
the Pacific Ocean full of sperm oil. 
A large number of persons from Nan. 
tucket and the neighboring towns in 
town to attend the consecration of the 
Free Mason's Lodge tomorrow. 

27th. This has been a grand holi- 
day. In the morning a grand proces- 
sion of the Free Masons took place 
from the Lodge to Mr. Dewey's meet- 
ing house, escorted by a band of mu- 
sicians from Taunton, consisting of 
eleven men. They had an address from 
Mr. Dean of Boston, after which the 
officers of the lodge were installed. I 



did not succeed in getting into the 
house. It was entirely filled with la- 
dies, excepting the pews reserved for 
the Masons. One hundred and thirty 
of them dined at Nelson's. The winil 
blew very hard and the streets ex- 
tremely dusty, so they did not march 
through the streets so much as they 
contemplated. About midnight last 
night we had a serenade from the 
Band. Attended the Friends meeting 
this morning. It was monthly meet- 
ing. We had a long and a good ser- 
mon from Ben and from Mary New- 
ell. Debby had something to say. She 
got herself into a hobble and made 
pretty poor work of it. Mr. Newell 
replied to her very handsomely. Cor- 
nelius, Betsey and the girls dined with 
us. Took tea at Father's. After tea 
Capt. Smith came in and told us they 
were getting up a little bit of a dance 
at the Hall. Catharine, Susan and 
Wm. T. and self went; we had a very 
pleasant time. The music was very 
fine. Got home at twelve. 

28th. This evening rec'd letters 
from Moses at Gibraltar the 17th of 
March, 54 days from Rio. Some 
thunder and lightning with a little 
rain at sunset. Mary and Susan, War- 
ren and Smith spent the evening with 
us. 

29th. The ship Commodore Rod- 
gers Smith from the Brazil Banks 
with 1900 bbls. whale oil arrived this 
morning. 

30th. — Sunday. Attended the 

Friends meeting this forenoon. Wo 
had an excellent meeting, good 
preaching from E. Rotch and Mr. 
Newell. Chas. Morgan had a few 
words to say. Debby Otis gave us a 
prayer. Sam. Rodman and brother 
Cornelius would not rise. In the aft- 
ernoon attended Mr. Dewey's meeting, 
and in the evening the New Light 
friends held a meeting at the Ind«- 



[90 1 



ONE 



HUNDRED 



YEARS 



AGO 



pendent Tabernacle. Mary Rotch, 
Mary Newell and Eliza Rotch, had a 
good deal to say. We had a very in- 
teresting meeting indeed. 
31st. Nothing. 

June. 

1st. Mary Newell left this morn- 
ing for Lynn. A very pleasant day. 
Capt. Smith dined with us. 

2d. The Wm. Rotch, Capt. Tobey, 
arrived full of sperm oil this after- 
noon. 

3d. Rainy day. Got the Wm. 
Rotch to the wharf, Cornelius and 
the girls dined with us. 

4th. More rainy weather. The 
ship Midas, Capt. Spooner, from the 
Banks with 2100 bbls. of oil, 85 of it 
sperm, arrived this afternoon. 

5th. Forenoon rainy. Cleared away 
pleasantly at noon. Took tea at 
Father's. 

eth. Sunday. The Ships Rich- 
mond and Ann Alexander sailed for 
the Brazil Banks and the ship Com. 
Decatur for Marseilles with a cargo 
of whale oil. The ships Victory 
Adams with 1200 bbls. and the Geo. 
and Martha Chase with 1000 bbls. 
whale oil arrived from the Banks, 
both very bad voyages^ The Brig 
Resident Stoddard from Rio also ar- 
rived with some hides, sugar and 
coffee sent us by Capt. Lumbard, be- 



ing the surplus of sales he made at 
Kio, and the purchase of flour to 
take to Lima. He sailed from Rio 
the 8th of April for Lima. 

7th. The ship Portia Ray with 
1400 bbls. arrived from the Pacific 
Ocean; commenced discharging the 
Wm. Rotch. A very warm day. 

8th. Much troubled with the tooth 
ache. Thos. Green and wife with 
Robert Smith and wife took tea with 
us. 

9th. John Thornton here from 
Nantucket. He intends taking 

charge of the North free school. 

10th. John Thornton dined with 
us. The Experiment arrived from 
New York. Hetty Hussey came in 
her. 

11th,. Matthew Barker and wife 
came off from Nantucket. 

12th. Got an account of the Wm. 
Botch's cargo. Say 1810 bbls. sperm 
oil, 28 per cent, of it head. Capt. 
Smith and Susan went down to Cor- 
nelius' farm. 

13th. Sunday. Warren dined with 
us. Anna Parry came from Philadel- 
ihia by the steamboat line. 

14th. Joseph Rotch's lady present- 
ed him with another daughter this 
afternoon at 5 o'clock. Spent the 
evening at Nat's. 



FINIS. 



[ 91 J 



100 YEARS AGO 

Was first printed in The Morning Mercury 
in February, 1922 
The linotype used in this book was loaned 
by the 

MERCURY PUBLISHING CO. 
and made this edition possible. 



Printer and Publisher. 



